This archive report was first published on 10 May 2020.
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenya's response has been incremental, from social distancing to partial lockdowns. However, one strategy that holds immense potential to curtail the spread of the virus is the Nyumba Kumi initiative, a community-led approach to security and public health.
Introduced by a presidential order in 2013, Nyumba Kumi aims to create safe and sustainable neighbourhoods by anchoring community policing at the household level. This approach recognizes that citizens are key players in national security and seeks to build a people-centred National Police Service.
The global human health crisis presents a timely opportunity to expand the Nyumba Kumi concept to offer a solution to a non-traditional security threat. By forming issue-oriented coalitions between the State and non-state actors, Nyumba Kumi can help tackle insecurity-related challenges at all levels of society.
China's success in curbing the spread of Covid-19 using a community welfare approach, similar to Nyumba Kumi, demonstrates the potential of this strategy. By restricting movement from high-risk counties to affected ones, Nyumba Kumi has proven effective in limiting the spread of the virus.
For instance, authorities in Taita-Taveta County upscaled monitoring and surveillance to curtail the spread of coronavirus from neighbouring Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale. This example shows that the Nyumba Kumi concept has been successfully used outside the security domain.
The promise of Nyumba Kumi as a vital weapon in the war against Covid-19 is immense. By leveraging community-led approaches to security and public health, Nyumba Kumi can help Kenya effectively combat the pandemic.
