This archive report was first published on 12 July 2019.
Published on July 12, 2019, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been recognized for his efforts in reducing crime in the city.
According to a statement on his social media pages, Sonko received the prestigious International Police Association-Kenya award and honorary membership for his administration's measures to combat crime.
"Received the prestigious International Police Association-Kenya award & honorary membership for our efforts in combating crime. My admin has put in place measures to reduce crime in Nairobi including rehabilitating reformed criminals & hiring them in our beautification programme," said Mr Sonko on Twitter.
However, this recognition comes weeks after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) launched an investigation into Sonko's alleged links to a militia named Sonko Defence Force.
As part of the probe, the DCI had requested Sonko's assistance in summoning three Members of the Nairobi County Assembly who were linked to the group. The MCAs later denied any involvement with the militia.
Interestingly, Nairobi has been ranked as the top county with the highest rates of crime over the past five years, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Between 2014 and 2018, the city recorded a significant number of crimes, including homicide, theft, and economic crimes. The number of crimes has been on the rise, with 6,732 incidents reported in 2014, 4,382 in 2015, 4,954 in 2016, 7,434 in 2017, and 7,128 in 2018.
