According to the Kenya National Police Service (NPS) Annual Crime Report for 2016, crime increased by 6 percent over the year, with 76,986 cases reported, up from 72,496 in 2015. Major contributors to the rise included vehicle and other thefts, stealing, and offenses involving dangerous drugs. Specifically, dangerous drug cases grew by 11 percent, and economic crimes rose by 8 percent during the period.
Breaking down the data further, the report shows that arson jumped by 20 percent, while house break-ins increased by 8 percent.
Drug trafficking also surged: possession cases went up by 12 percent, and trafficking by 25 percent.
On the flip side, some categories saw declines — for instance, robbery dropped by 6 percent and the theft of livestock ( stock theft ) declined by 2 percent.
Geographically, Nairobi reported the highest number of vehicle and property thefts, followed by Mombasa, Kiambu, and Nakuru.
The report also highlighted school arson, corruption, fire incidents, traffic safety, and preparations for the 2017 elections as areas of concern.
In light of these trends, the NPS underlined the need for stronger community engagement and better crime-prevention strategies. Authorities urged citizens to play a more active role in reporting crime, while calling for increased resources for police to effectively tackle rising offences — especially those tied to drug abuse and property crime.