Community Policing and Crime Control in Machakos County, Kenya

Authors

  • Rita Makena Mutegi Kenyatta University
  • Wilson Muna Kenyatta University

Abstract

There exists a wide gap in the information available related to security, crime and crime control in Kenya. A number of researchers have explored on community policing as a practice of controlling crime which is still not adequate to effectively handle the issues of rising crime levels in Kenya every day. Crime impacts on nearly all Kenyans lives making it hard for Kenyans to engage in productive activities to realize their dreams. This study sought to assess how community policing affect crime control in Machakos County, Kenya. It was anchored on the securitization theory. The study adopted descriptive case study research design. Primary and secondary sources of data were employed. The study established that community policing in Machakos had made a remarkable milestone in engaging the community and launching problem-solving efforts. The conclusion was that adoption of community policing had a huge impact on crime levels. The study recommended that reinvigorating community policing is essential as this acts as a primary key feature in detection of potential criminal threats in a society.

Keywords: Community Policing, Crime Control, Machakos County

Author Biographies

Rita Makena Mutegi, Kenyatta University

Department of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University

Wilson Muna, Kenyatta University

Department of Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University

References

Biwott, F. (2017). Factors influencing the implementation of community policing programme in Kenya: A case of Nyeri Police Station, Nyeri County. University of Nairobi.

Broadhurst, R., Lee, K. W., & Chan, C. Y. (2016). Crime trends. In Understanding criminal justice in Hong Kong (pp. 75-98). Abingdon: Routledge.

Buzan, B. (2006). Will the ‘global war on terrorism’ be the new Cold War?. International affairs, 82(6), 1101-1118.

Chimera J. M. & Likaka, L (2014). Community Policing Implementation by Security Agencies in Njoro Sub-County, Nakuru, Kenya. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 4(8), 23-31.

Christopher, F. (2017). Evidence of citizen Engagement in promoting Good Governance.

Chumba, C. (2012). Community policing and its effects on terrorism in Kenya: A survey of Nairobi area.

Cordner, G. (2015). Problem-oriented policing in Colorado Springs: A content analysis of 753 cases. Crime & Delinquency, 61(1), 71-95.

Department of International Development (2010). Security, justice & Growth. British council.

Eldered de Klerk (2015). Rustenburg SAPS-Policing a growing mining city. Servamus Community-based Safety and Security Magazine, 108(9), 50-53.

Erick, G. & Elechi, O. (2010). The challenges of community policing in Nigeria. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 11(3), 285-293.

Ezenkwu C. (2013). Strategies for improving community policing in Nigeria through Community Informatics Social Network. In 2013 IEEE International Conference on Emerging & Sustainable Technologies for Power & ICT in a Developing Society (NIGERCON) (pp. 163-168). IEEE.

Gary, C. (2013). Understanding Community Policing.

Gill, C. & Bennett. B. (2014). Effects of Crime on Communities.Hong Kong Police Report (2008).

Kang’ethe, S. M., Manomano, T., & Ndonga, M. M. (2016). Exploring factors contributing to crime and violence in South African high schools: the case of 2008 study on Nzululwazi High School in Alice Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa. International Journal of Educational Sciences, 14(3), 318-324.

Karstedt, S. (2019). Creating institutions: Linking the ‘local’ and the ‘global’ in the travel of crime policies. Police Practice and Research, 8 (2), 145-158.

Kitur, S. (2013). Paradigm shift in Kenya’s Security Intelligence Service. Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and psychological measurement, 30(3), 607-610.

Mohammad, S. & Aktaruzzaman, U. (2016). Citizen Participation in urban Local Government.

Muchira, J (2016). The Role of Community Policing in crime prevention: Kirinyaga County. Central Kenya.

Muguire E. & Wells, W. (2009). The importance of Community Policing.

Muriithi, W. (2014). Influence of Community Policing on crime reduction in Kenya.

Ngare, Y. (2007). The philosophy of community policing.

Nyman, J. (2013). Securitization theory. Critical Approach to Security. Abingdon: Routledge, 51-62.

Okeshola B & Patience E. (2013). Community Policing in Nigeria.

Okiro, M. (2007). Community Policing in Nigeria.

Phillip, J. (2009). Crime control and Prevention.

Reed W. (2013). Politics of Community Policing.

Republic of Kenya (2015). Draft Guidelines for implementation of Community Policing; Usalama wa Msingi. Nairobi: Government Printer.

Siegel L., & Senna, J. (2005). Introduction to Criminal Justice.

Sir Robert Peel (1829). Principles of Community Policing.

Spitzer (2007). The History of Policing in the United States. Taureck, R. (2006). Securitization theory and securitization studies. Journal of International relations and Development, 9(1), 53-61.

Waller, C. (2006). Street-Level Leadership: Understanding Community Policing, Criminal Justice Review, 19(2), 189-211.

Wambugu, J. (2005). Evaluating Community Policing Strategy. A Case study of Kenya Police.

Wanjohi, D. (2014). Influence of Community Policing on Crime Reduction in Kenya. A Case of Machakos County. Master’s thesis, University of Nairobi.

Williams, P. (2008). Security studies and the long war in security and the war on terror. New York.

Downloads

Published

2021-04-01

How to Cite

Mutegi, R. M., & Muna, W. (2021). Community Policing and Crime Control in Machakos County, Kenya. Journal of Public Policy & Governance, 5(1), 25–34. Retrieved from https://stratfordjournal.org/journals/index.php/journal-of-public-policy-governa/article/view/710

Issue

Section

Articles