The realities of living in Nairobi
on A Serendipitous Journey (Kenya), 27/Feb/2010 11:49, 34 days ago
In recent weeks we’ve received several warnings about escalating crime levels, especially in Nairobi. From robbery at gunpoint to carjackings to home invasions, we're told they are all on the increase.Crimes which would make headlines in many parts of the‘developed world’ often go unreported in Nairobi. My colleague confided in me that shortly after dropping me off at the matatu stage one day last week, while he was idle in the middle of a traffic jam around 6 pm (in broad daylight)he was robbed at gunpoint through the open window of his car. Although he reported it to the police he has no faith that anything will be done about it and even saw his assailant the day after the crime. I personally know 2 ladies and 1 gentleman who have been kidnapped at gunpoint in the past year and have another colleague who was recently strangled and robbed of everything on his body (including the glasses off of his face) in the early hours of the morning. Those aren’t even to mention the non-violent, petty crimes which residents of Nairobi deal with on a regular basis…There are many things that I will miss about Nairobi when the time comes to go home, but the crime rate certainly isn't one of them!