Homicide Among Police Officers in Nairobi City County, Kenya: Causes and Effects

This study specifically analyzed the causes and effects of homicide among police officers in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The General Strain Theory explained how occupational stress, interpersonal disagreements, poor working conditions, discriminatory deployment policies, and personal conflicts such as love triangles generate strain that can lead to deliberate homicide among police officers. The study used a mixed-method design with 318 respondents purposively and stratified randomly sampled from police divisions in Nairobi City County. Data were collected through questionnaires and key informant interviews, and thematic analysis was applied to organize qualitative insights, providing a comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of police homicides. This study observed that the majority of homicide cases among police officers are deliberate rather than accidental, with occupational stress, disagreements between junior and senior officers, and poor working conditions emerging as primary drivers. The effects include post-traumatic depression, guilt, fear of recurrence, and intense lack of motivation, all of which negatively impact job performance and organizational cohesion. This study proposes early identification of at-risk officers, mandatory stress management programs, and the establishment of confidential peer support systems to address root causes before they escalate into lethal violence.

NA

1. Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology, 30(1), 47–88. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Allard, T., & Prenzler, T. (2010). A summary analysis of police deaths in Australia: Implications for prevention. Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 33(1), 61–82. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Amnesty International UK. (2016). The Human Rights Action Centre Report. London: Amnesty International. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Brown, J. (1994). Police suicide: A comparative analysis. Journal of Police Science and Administration, 17(3), 45–58. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Ellrich, K. (2016). Police victimization in Germany: Patterns and prevention. Berlin: German Police University. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Fagan, J., & Geller, A. (2018). Police violence and the health of Black men. American Journal of Public Health, 108(6), 732–734. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Kimotho, F., Mwangi, W., & Omboto, J. (2018). Effects of occupational strain among police officers to the general security of a community: A case of Muranga Town, Muranga County, Kenya. International Journal of Criminology and Security Studies, 3(1), 45–62. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Kothari, C.R. (2014). Research methodology: Methods and techniques (3rd ed.). New Delhi: New Age International Publishers. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Momanyi, M.K. (2018). Effects of job stressors on work performance of police officers in Kenya: A case of Nairobi County (MBA Dissertation). Kisii University, Kenya. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Mugenda, O., & Mugenda, A. (2013). Research methods: Quantitative and qualitative approaches (1st ed.). Nairobi: African Centre for Technology Studies. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Munuhe, M. (2016). Strained relationships and fatal incidents among Kenyan police. Daily Nation, July 15, 2016. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. National Police Service. (2017). Annual report 2017. Nairobi: Government Printer. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. National Police Service. (2018). Statistical report on police homicides in Kenya. Nairobi: NPS Headquarters. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. National Police Service. (2019). Annual report 2019. Nairobi: Government Printer. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Nyaga, W.E. (2011). Occupational stress among Kenyan police: A case study of police officers in Nairobi (MA Dissertation). University of Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Oshodi, J. E. (2011). The psychological problems of Nigerian police officers. Retrieved from http://www.narialand.com [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Papazoglou, K., & Mcquerrey, T. (2018). Police stress and homicide: A review of the literature. Police Practice and Research, 19(4), 345–362. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Prenzler, T. (2006). Police deaths in Australia: A review of the literature. Australian Journal of Police Sciences, 8(2), 112–128. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Waitheru, B.P. (2011). Levels and perceptions of stress among administration police officers: A case of Nairobi County (MA Dissertation). University of Nairobi. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Wango, G., Wairire, G., & Odiemo, L. (2018). Counselling interventions and use of counselling skills in police services in Kenya. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 23(7), 39–52 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Occupational Culture in Relation to Job Satisfaction and Work Performance among Police
• Inmates' Character Reformation and Recidivism in Nigeria: A Study of Okaka Correctional Facility, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
• Life World of Former Female Basic Internal Security Operations Course (BISOC) Trainees
• Efficacy of Fingerprint and Facial Recognition in Enhancing National Security in Kenya
• No More Catcalling: Awareness of College of Criminal Justice Education Students on Republic Act 11313 Also Known as Safe Spaces Act