This archive report was first published on 6 January 2022.
On January 6, 2022, Agence France-Presse (AFP), an international news agency based in Paris, France, posted a job advertisement for a Nairobi-based correspondent. The advert warned applicants of the city's crime levels, stating that pickpocketing is commonplace and armed attacks, including burglaries, occur from time to time.
While some online users found the warning amusing, others deemed it stereotypical. However, human resources consultant Wandera Kweyu observed that AFP's message was appropriate, given its international profile and the need for applicants to be aware of the local conditions.
According to Wandera, the agency was highlighting the importance of vigilance in Nairobi, without portraying the city as inherently bad. She noted that honesty is a valued attribute among French people, and that the warning was meant to caution applicants to be mindful of their surroundings.
A 2018 report by the National Crime Research Centre supports AFP's warning, stating that mugging, stealing, burglary, breakings, and robbery with violence are the most common crimes committed in Nairobi. The report found that mugging accounted for 68.8% of total cases filed, followed by stealing, burglary, and robbery with violence.
