Nairobi and Kiambu emerged among unsafe counties with high crime rates in the country, according to a police report.
Nairobi topped with 6,686 cases, with 1,129 being assault cases. Kiambu county was second with 5,715 cases, and Meru County was third with 5,032 incidents.
According to National Police Service (NPS) report dated Thursday, October 13, Nakuru and Machakos were fourth and fifth with 4,281 cases and 3,275 cases, respectively.
The data released by the police covered the period between January - December 2021 and further gave a projection for 2022.
Mandera County had the least, cases at 338.
Regional Crime Rates
According to NPS, Rift Valley recorded the highest crime levels in the period under review with 18,848 cases which was an increase of 3,025 cases from the same period in 2020.
" Most of the cases reported in Rift Valley fell under the category of other offences against persons (5,353), followed by Stealing (2,724), offences against morality (2,039), other penal code offences (1,903) and breakings (1,265)," the report stated.
Eastern and Central regions followed closely in the number of crimes recorded in the country.
In total, the country recorded 81,272 cases. During the same period in 2020, the country recorded 69,645, marking a 16 per cent increase.
Under the category of other offences against persons, assault was the most reported, with 15,969 cases, followed by stealing, which had 11,762 cases.
6,366 defilement cases were also recorded in the period under review. However, the police projected that the crime rate would reduce in 2022.
"This shows that if all factors remain constant, crime levels may drop slightly in 2022 to below the 72,000 mark. Thus, decisive policing strategies have to be put in place to curb the current crimes," NPS projected.
According to NPS, terrorism, organised gangs, wildlife security, and abuse of drugs remained among the threats to national security.
