Earlier this week, the National Police Service Commission released a report on the most dangerous places within Nairobi city.
In a submission on ‘Crime Hot Spot report', the security organ made public a list of five areas that are considered insecure in the expansive Nairobi county. Topping in the list was Embakasi followed by Kibera.
Bombolulu estate lead the slum area in the number of reported armed cases where people are robbed at gun point among other crude weapons. Other residential areas within the biggest slum residence include Karanja road, Salama, Migingo and Laini Saba.
In the report, crime incidences were the sole indicators used to identify the insecure hot spots based on police records. It is noteworthy that slum dwellers are facing hard economic life and this could be the compelling factor as to why people in the area engage in criminal activities. As the report also sought to clarify, not all crimes in the named areas are perpetrated by the local residents but the scenes of crime are what led them to ranking the areas. The slum's criminal activities were reported to have occurred during day and night at an equal measure.
In the third most insecure area was Makadara with Jericho, Kiambu and Mukuru Kwa Njenga topping its list. The crimes reported ranged from rape, assault, robbery, carjacking and kidnapping cases. Just like Kibera, the crimes recorded happened during day and night but more happened at night. Kamukunji area was placed fourth in the list and finally Dagoretti closing the list of top five.
Interestingly, most of the areas highlighted as crime hot spots happen to be within the low income suburbs. This is a pointer that the national and county governments ought to do something to empower the local residents in a move to reduce criminal acts.