The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2024 revealed that over 2,000 foreigners were convicted in Kenya between January and December 2023.
In the report released on Monday, May 20, 2024, foreign men accounted for the largest percentage of non-citizen convicts in the country.
"The number of convicted foreign nationals in Kenya was 2,197 in 2023. Foreign male prisoners accounted for the majority of the convicted foreign nationals at 89.3 per cent," reads part of the report.
KNBS' report cited illegal entry into the country as a factor behind the high conviction rate of foreign male nationals in the country.
The document also showed that more foreign men than women had been convicted for drug-related offences.
The report revealed that the number of foreign men convicted of being in Kenya illegally was almost 10 times more than the number of women. The data showed that 1,053 foreign men were convicted for this offence during the period under review compared to 15 women.
Regarding drug-related offences, 170 foreign male nationals were convicted compared to 44 women. The disparity was also evident in numerous other offences, such as sexually related crimes, where 142 foreign male nationals were convicted compared to 5 women.
Some of the offences listed in the report included; acts against the natural environment such as pollution where about 151 foreign male nationals and 3 foreign female nationals were convicted.
In the period under review, no woman was convicted for some offences including break-ins, handling stolen property, causing death by dangerous driving, theft of stock, terrorism, acts against computer systems and theft of or from a motor vehicle.
Similarly, no woman was convicted for the offence of obtaining by false pretence.
On the other hand, no man was convicted for; attempts and conspiracies, obtaining by false presence and registration of persons.
Notably, the number of foreign convicts was reported to have increased compared to previous years during the period under review.
Comparatively, in 2021, 183 foreigners were arrested in Kenya. The number shot up to 1,423 in 2022.
List of Offences
Unlawfully Being in Kenya
Drug Related
Acts against the natural environment ((including pollution/dumping/protection of protected species)
Sexually related offences
Other offences against persons
General stealing
Attempts and conspiracies
Theft of stock
Assault
Break-ins
Robbery and allied offences
Murder (including attempt)
Other offences against property
Stealing by servant
Handling stolen properties
Causing death by dangerous driving
Terrorism/terror-related
Acts against computer systems(including unlawful accesses/interference/interception of computer data
Manslaughter
Theft from motor vehicles
Theft of motor vehicle
Obtaining by false pretence
Registration of persons
Theft of motor vehicle parts
Corruption and related offences
