Residence Structural Composition and Implementation of Nyumba Kumi Policing Initiative in Kericho County, Kenya

Abstract

Despite the establishment of Nyumba Kumi initiative and concerted efforts by government and interested stakeholders to cushion crime in order to flatten or ameliorate insecurity curve, crime and social disorder continues unabated in Kenya. The designers of Nyumba Kumi Initiative (NKI) had in mind a solution package for criminal behavior and acts of terrorism in diverse Kenyan localities by encouraging constant interaction and sharing of information by every NKI cell member in a bid to monitor security threats early enough by providing information to the local administration and security organs for quick mitigation. The non – responsiveness yet massive government involvement and budgets towards the NKI policy makes the whole concept and practice an issue of academic interest worth reinvestigation. In many upcoming cities in Kenya, experiencing growth of urbanization and national development, there are signs of complexity and multiplicity of criminal offences and actions raising questions whether the initiative is yet to achieve its set objectives. This study sought to find out relationship between Residence Structural Composition and implementation of Nyumba Kumi community policing initiative in Kericho County, Kenya. Theoretically, this study was guided by Social Capital Theory and Broken Windows Theory. Descriptive and correlation research design was adopted; the study used both qualitative and quantitative data. A target population was 1,842 household in the four villages. A simple random technique was used to get information from sample size of 328 household members distributed proportionately across the villages in Nyagacho in the case of probability sampling. Purposive sampling technique was used to get information from National Administrative Officers in the area (Chief and Assistant Chief) and four chairpersons of Nyumba Kumi initiative in the area. Descriptive statistics and measures of association were used to examine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. It was followed by analysis using inferential statistics such as regression analysis to examine the effects of independent variables on the Nyumba Kumi security initiative. Presentation of qualitative data was done inform of themes, figures and tables. Residence Structural Composition (Diverse ethnicities/tribes, professionals, and age) was found to have a significant relationship with implementation of Nyumba Kumi implementation (0.00, P<0.05). Residence Structural Composition was concluded to have significant effect in implementation of Nyumba Kumi initiative. National Government Administrators are central in facilitation of Nyumba Kumi initiative in Nyagacho area. The study recommends that local administration ought to involve more aggregate populace make the implementation of the Nyumba Kumi Policing initiative work.