Debate Flares as City Leaders Clash Over Causes of Nairobi Insecurity

A debate has emerged over the root causes of Nairobi’s rising insecurity, following recent reports of robberies in the central business district and other parts of the city. Speaking at a joint press briefing with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Monday, September 8, 2025, Nairobi Regional Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo attributed the surge in crime partly to faulty streetlights, unregulated hawkers and a disorganised boda boda sector.

“What we will be doing in the city of Nairobi is tightening security. We want the county government of Nairobi to assist us with street lighting, the organisation of hawkers, the organisation of the boda boda sector, and other areas so that we have an orderly city,” Kitiyo said, adding that these measures are crucial in making the capital safer.

However, security analyst George Otieno dismissed the argument that dysfunctional bulbs are a primary driver of crime. Responding on Tuesday, September 9, he said linking robberies to poor lighting oversimplifies the problem and shifts focus from deeper structural issues.

“How then do they explain robberies happening in broad daylight? Crime is driven by unemployment, poverty, weak policing, and systemic corruption, not just faulty bulbs,” he argued.

Speaking on the same, yesterday, Governor Sakaja acknowledged Nairobians’ growing concerns about insecurity, stressing that security remains a top priority for his administration.

“What I am appealing to you as the governor is that the citizens of Nairobi. We should take charge. Because that is your taxpayers’ money, that is your contribution. And as your governor, the first work of any governor is to secure their people,” he said.

The governor further revealed plans to convene a meeting with key security officials, including Officers Commanding Stations (OCSs) and county commissioners, to streamline operations. He also announced a forthcoming joint campaign between the county government and the National Police Service to curb rising crime.

“We want to tell people who have been doing this, you will not do this for a long time,” Sakaja warned.