Nairobi's Crime Week: Sharp Rise in Carjackings Around CBD, Plus New Police Patrols in Eastlands

Nairobi recorded at least 47 reported carjackings and attempted vehicle thefts across the metropolitan area this week, marking a concerning 34% jump compared to the previous seven days, according to preliminary data from the Kenya Police Service's weekly crime bulletin released Monday morning.

The spike has particularly affected commuters and businesses operating along Mombasa Road, Kenyatta Avenue, and the Nairobi-Westlands corridor, with three incidents reported on a single evening near the Central Business District on Wednesday. One incident at around 6:45 p.m. near the Standard Chartered offices on Kenyatta Avenue saw an armed gang make off with a Toyota Land Cruiser valued at approximately 4.2 million shillings, forcing officers to establish temporary checkpoints throughout the evening.

In response, the Nairobi County Police Commander, speaking during a security briefing at Police Headquarters on Kiambu Road on Thursday, announced the deployment of additional rapid response units across Eastlands, including Korogocho, Mathare, and Huruma—neighbourhoods that have recorded elevated incidents of gang-related violence and armed robbery in recent weeks. The initiative, dubbed Operation Safe Streets, aims to increase foot patrols and vehicle checkpoints during peak crime hours between 4 p.m. and midnight.

"We are committed to restoring public confidence in our security apparatus," the commander stated during the briefing, though specifics on officer deployment numbers were not disclosed.

The Kenya Red Cross Society also reported increased demand for emergency response services this week, handling 312 trauma cases across Nairobi alone—up from 267 the previous week. Nairobi Hospital's emergency department confirmed receiving 18 gunshot wound cases over the same period, though staff declined to comment on specific circumstances.

Business leaders at the Nairobi Chamber of Commerce expressed concern about the security situation's impact on economic activity. Several firms operating in industrial areas like Industrial Area and Embakasi have reportedly increased private security expenditure, with armed escort services now commanding rates between 15,000 and 25,000 shillings per trip for executive movements across the city.

The Public Service Commission announced a recruitment drive for an additional 800 officers to bolster neighbourhood police stations across Nairobi, with applications opening next week. Meanwhile, residents in affected areas have been urged to report suspicious activities through the police hotline 999 or via the new citizen reporting mobile application launched last month.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.