City’s most dangerous areas named

Aerial View of the city of Nairobi, Kenya's capital city. Photo/FREDRICK ONYANGO 

By FRED MUKINDA fmukinda@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, April 18   2013 at  21:00

Nairobi’s most dangerous neighbourhoods have been named and residents warned to avoid them because most of them are not policed.

Prevalent crimes in these areas include carjackings, robberies, rape, assault, burglary, theft and kidnappings.

While most criminals operate at night, some of the crime-prone areas are more dangerous because armed robberies occur in day time.

The findings were made following a government-sanctioned survey carried out by the Security Research and Information Centre last year and launched by Inspector General David Kimaiyo in Nairobi on Tuesday.

“Nairobi is the nerve centre of our country’s economy and political leadership. This report will help in facilitating stakeholders in consolidating their resources in order to address challenges of crime that we face all,” he said.

Most notorious places are parts of Kayole, Kibera, Lunga Lunga slums, Jericho and Soweto because robberies happen anytime of the day, says the report.

Mr Kimaiyo said the report would be given to Nairobi police commander Benson Kibui for implementation.

In Makadara, Mukuru kwa Reuben slums was mapped out because the area is a trade centre for firearms after dusk.

Kariokor and Mlango Kubwa in Starehe division were identified as places where gangsters in need of guns can easily hire them anytime.

Kongo section of Dagoretti division is also awash with illicit firearms for hire, the report indicates.

“Sexual crimes were the least mentioned in the survey. However, the survey found out that most victims rarely report them due to fear of stigmatisation, fear of victimisation and need to keep family dignity,” the report says.

A section of Mathare known as Nigeria, Mau Mau junction between Kawangware and Kangemi, a spot near Muhindi Mweusi supermarket in Mukuru kwa Njenga slums and an open ground near Huruma chief’s camp were mapped as locations where rapists lurk.

Middle and upper class suburbs such as South C and Westlands were identified with night robberies targeting motorists.