Community Policing in Practice

Community policing concept was adopted in Kenya in March 2002 and was launched in Ruai Nairobi in March 2005. Ruai is a cosmopolitan suburb located approximately 30Km on the eastern part of Nairobi along the busy Nairobi-Kangundo Road. The area is characterised by both middle- and low-income dwellers with high levels of crime. The larger Ruai comprises eight zones: Ruai Central Kamulu Capitol Hill Ndege View Njiru Gituamba Makongeni and Sewage area. In Kenya community policing informally started at Mawe-Mbili (two-stones) area within Capitol Hill zone. To reduce crime and secure the neighbourhood residents donated land and materials and build a temporary police post currently; Mawe-Mbili police station. This was instrumental in identifying the area for piloting community-based policing. However its adoption was greatly influenced by various factors that this book seeks to explain.