Police Dismiss Increased Crime Reports Despite Raila Reaction

Nairobi Police Commander, James Mugera has denied numerous reports of an increase in crime in the city in the past few weeks that have seen even politicians cry foul, including former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.

Mugera, in an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, November 10, Mugera further claimed that the reports were meant to ruin the reputation of President William Ruto's administration.

According to the police boss, only nine incidents of violent robberies were reported to the police in September and October 2022, therefore urging Nairobi residents to remain calm as they carry out their daily duties.

"There is no spike in crime. What changed is the political leadership. We have a new President, Parliament and Cabinet but the same service is offered by the police.

"We have always been working. There was no lacuna whatsoever," Mugera argued. 

He noted that criminal incidents involving theft of property have not been uncommon, with several incidents reported in the past months, including the stabbing to death of a Strathmore University graduate in Ridgeways estate by two thugs on a motorbike who ambushed him.

"We have had criminals snatching valuables like phones, laptops, and money from unsuspecting public members using motorbikes. This has been the cause of uproar among Kenyans," he explained.

"For instance, in the incident in Lucky Summer, we realised the weapon was used in three other cases after we completed our investigations."

Mugera further urged Kenyans to resist reviving old police reports on criminal activities, referring to a case he claimed was shared widely yet the incident occurred outside Kenya.

"We have seen some of these reports are recycled. I noted some of them were reported the previous months and investigations were ongoing," Mugera clarified.

Raila on Thursday criticised the deteriorating state of security in the country that is contributing to what he termed as a sense of "lawlessness and impunity."

“A general sense of lawlessness is taking shape. Our security appears to have deteriorated overnight, with widespread incidents of daylight crimes, making families lose their loved ones to thugs in broad daylight, particularly in Nairobi,” said Odinga, further warning of more consequences if the current trend is not addressed, which will make criminals bolder and begin targeting communities as well as security officers.

On Wednesday, police foiled an armed robbery on a university student in Thika, Kiambu County by shooting dead a robbery with violence suspect.