Unmasking The Shadows; Navigating Kenya’s Homicide Surge Beyond Media Spotlight
By Brian Magiri
Worth Noting:
- Looking back, there was a time that Kisii County hit the headlines all pertaining to rising killings and murders which were all aired in media. A glaring example is the Shakahola Massacre, where 600 people were said to be missing and over 400 lost their life in an incident directly related to cult.
- Looking back these last years, the numbers are frightening. In 2022 3,056 people were killed in homicide cases, which transits last year’s worrying course: 3,281 killed in 2021, 3,111 killed in 2020, 2,971 killed in 2019 and 2,856 killed in 2018. The total number of reported crimes increased by 8.4% amounting to 88,083 in 2022.
Kenya has in the last two weeks caved in to an accelerating wave of tragic deaths and murders that have left the entire country shocked and stupified. Truly, different voices criticizing the surge in violence have expressed themselves as the public grapples with the distressing reality and even advocating for a movement to halt these senseless acts.
However, let’s take a step back and think about how media houses mold our view of these events. Personally, I think murders are quite unfortunate on a weekly basis and this recent increase is not a new phenomenon. The difference of this murder to those that were common is the involvement of a socialite, things which ignite reporters to aggressively cover its similar incidents. Ever thought why the deaths of over 70 girls went unnoticed until Scarlet’s tragic end, or the gory fate of the Roysambu girl who was horrifically dismembered? In 2020 alone, statistics revealed that 3,123 Kenyans fell victim to homicide, averaging nine lives lost every day. The fact of the matter here is that just because we’re hearing about it now for the first time doesn’t take away from the atrocities that have been occurring below.
Looking back, there was a time that Kisii County hit the headlines all pertaining to rising killings and murders which were all aired in media. A glaring example is the Shakahola Massacre, where 600 people were said to be missing and over 400 lost their life in an incident directly related to cult.
Looking back these last years, the numbers are frightening. In 2022 3,056 people were killed in homicide cases, which transits last year’s worrying course: 3,281 killed in 2021, 3,111 killed in 2020, 2,971 killed in 2019 and 2,856 killed in 2018. The total number of reported crimes increased by 8.4% amounting to 88,083 in 2022.
An absolute need for all concerned parties to act decively and immediately is felt in order to contain these alarming increae in number of homicides. The Interior Minister, General of the Police and finally the President must join hands and devise strict guidelines and rules for lodgings as well as Airbnb. When strong and well implemented regulations are put in place, the environment is made safer and equally prevents potential crimes.
A compound strategy needs to be evolved to match the gravity of the situation. Organisation and educational campaigns for conflict resolution, mental health awareness and community policing. Law enforcement agencies need to enhance their investigative capacities in order to make available quicker justice to the families affected.
Besides, this would also result in the establishment of a culture where citizens will feel free to offer information to the law enforcers. Engaging the public in reporting any suspicious activities at the same time assuring them their safety will result in prevention of crime even before committing it.
While contemplating the recent upswing of tragic events, it is a shock to the nation yet at the same time one must take into consideration that this phenomenon is not just emerging recently but rather rearing its head until a solution can be found. Kenya can only hope that through a concatenated effort by the government, law enforcement, and its citizenry it will be able to curtail the rising wave of homicides and ensure that its citizens are safe and live at peace with themselves.
Brian Magiri is a journalism and Mass Communication student at Mount Kenya University-Nairobi
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