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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 11, No. 3

Publication Date: June 25, 2023

DOI:10.14738/aivp.113.14577.

Lerina, J. N, Chandi, J. R. & Njue. N. G. (2023). Risk Management Practice and Sustainability of Community Policing Projects: A

Case of Nyumba-Kumi Community-Policing Project in Kasarani Constituency in Nairobi County, Kenya. European Journal of Applied

Sciences, Vol - 11(3). 43-58.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Risk Management Practice and Sustainability of Community

Policing Projects: A Case of Nyumba-Kumi Community-Policing

Project in Kasarani Constituency in Nairobi County, Kenya

Lerina, Josephine Naanyu

Faculty of Business and Management Sciences,

University of Nairobi, Kenya

Chandi, John Rugendo

Faculty of Education,

University of Nairobi, Kenya

Njue, Nicasio Gicovi

Faculty of Business and Management Sciences,

University of Nairobi, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Sustainability of projects is very important in promoting long-term gains to the

beneficiaries. However, risks are ranked among the most constraining factors in

attaining long-term impacts of projects focused on promoting peace and security in

the community. The study investigated the influence of risk management practice

on sustainability of Nyumba-Kumi community-policing project in Kasarani

Constituency in Nairobi County, Kenya. The objectives were to establish the

influence of participatory risk assessment, risk planning, risk communication and

risk monitoring on sustainability of community-policing project. Risk theory and

sustainability theory anchored the study. Descriptive survey was adopted. The

targeted population was 222 project coordinators. A sample size of 144 was

obtained using Krejcie & Morgan formula and stratified random sampling.

Structured questionnaires and interview guide were used to collect data. Split-half

method was used in testing reliability at Cronbach`s alpha ≥0.7. Quantitative data

was analyzed using frequencies, mean, percentages, standard deviation, Pearson- Correlation method and regression analysis. The research model was tested using

F-test at 95% confidence interval. Qualitative data was analyzed through content

analysis. The results from inferential statistics showed that risk management

practice has statistically significant effect on sustainability of Nyumba-Kumi

community-policing project. The strength of influence decreased in the following

order: risk monitoring (r=0.72), risk planning (r=0.60), participatory risk

assessment (r=0.47) and risk communication (r=0.39). The accounted for 59%

variation in the sustainability of Nyumba-Kumi community-policing project (for R2=

0.59). Thus, risk management practice was concluded to be an important factor for

promoting sustainability of community-policing project.

Keywords: participatory risk assessment, risk planning, risk communication, risk

monitoring, sustainability of community-policing project, Nyumba-Kumi community- policing project.

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Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom 44

European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 11, Issue 3, June-2023

INTRODUCTION

Background

Globally, the community policing concept has fully been embraced in democratized states in

Europe, USA and Canada. For example, in Canada the government implementing police reform

agenda through programmed-based community policing model that has resulted into better

and more effective security results (Breutigam and Fortier, 2019). According to the Global

Project Against Transnational Organized Crime (GIATOC, 2020), the elusive and wide-speared

violence in United States of America has forced the government to institute structural reforms

in the security docket so as to integrate the community potentials in strengthening public

security. Still, this trend is observable in European countries whereby the policing is taking a

multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approach whereby the state security agents, policy

makers, community, non-governmental organizations and other security players are jointly

pooling together in the fight against crime (European Union EU, 2020). In Eastern-Asian

countries like China and Japan, the governments have formulated the relevant community

policing policies, instituted appropriate community policing institution and operation

procedures in line with the good practices, norms and international standards for policing

(Kocak, 2018). According to McCarthy (2018), Russia is executing police-reforms through

community-oriented projects that seek to change public perception and embrace police service

delivery and patriotism. Specifically, Russia is taking reforms in the self-control mechanism,

modernization of security wares and involving the public in rationalization of policing

activities.

In Africa, crime is very elusive owing to diverse values arising from cultural, ethnical, political

and ideological differences. The crime index in Africa is 12.5 (ISCJ, 2020). The rising of

insurgent groups like in Nigeria (Boko Haram), Somali (Al-Shabaab), Congo (Katanga) in Congo

and ISIS in Libya is a clear indication of a serious security threat. It is a serious security breach

when insurgency groups form to fight against the legitimate government security forces. Crime

has adverse effect as it drives away business, erodes human and social capital, undermines

development. In response to crime, many African countries are recognizing the importance of

community integration in security decision making for effective crime fight (Manayiti, 2017).

The national police reforms in Sub-Saharan Countries like Mozambique and South Africa are

taking democratization route through community policing as indicated by the police- community collaborations, citizen inclusion and accountable state policing (Kyed, 2018;

Diphoorn, 2016). This has resulted in to more efficient and effective police service delivery. In

the East Africa, the six member states have developed the common standards for enhancing

community policing which includes: public-police trust, police-community relationship, human

rights and police working condition (APCOF, 2010). However, the implementation of

community policing project has not rolled out yet in the individual member states (Ruteere, et

al., 2017). This indicates a lapse in the coordination of the implementation of the community

policing strategies in the region.

Traditionally, the fight against crime in Kenya has been inefficient and ineffective owing to

retrospective policing practices (Brankamp, 2020; Community Policing Information Booklet,

2017). In attempt to transform, increase efficiency and effectiveness in the security sector, the

Government of Kenya has embraced Nyumba-Kumi Project as a community policing strategy

towards transformative policing. In line with the aspirations of Kenya’s Vision 2030 to ensuring

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Lerina, J. N, Chandi, J. R. & Njue. N. G. (2023). Risk Management Practice and Sustainability of Community Policing Projects: A Case of Nyumba-Kumi

Community-Policing Project in Kasarani Constituency in Nairobi County, Kenya. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 11(3). 43-58.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.113.14577.

that Kenya is secure, safe and peaceful, together with the national values in the Kenya`s

Constitution 2010, the Nyumba-Kumi project was conceptualized 2013 with an aim of allowing

every 10 households to form a group and elect a representative for security watch within the

neighborhood (ISS, 2015). This followed the widespread interethnic clashes and rising cases of

terror that continued to pose serious security and safety threats to people and property

(Gjelsvil, 2020; Ngigi, 2018). The model sought to enable the community members to get

familiar with neighbours, share information relating to security threats and suspicious criminal

elements in their areas (Government of Kenya, 2014).

The Nyumba Kumi project was envisaged to be the lasting solution to risks related to terrorism

and criminal behavior as the locals were to be encouraged in making constant interactions,

sharing and monitoring criminal and terror related activities with local administration and

security organs. The specific approach towards risk management was community awareness,

crime risk evaluation, planning for appropriate response mechanism, communication and

collaboration with community stakeholders, monitoring and evaluation of the responses. This

would not only promote responsibility and ownership in security provision but also help in

deterring crime. However, the sustainability of the Nyumba-Kumi project in Kasarani

Constituency in Nairobi County is questionable as far as meeting the envisaged goals are

concerned. This is evidenced sustained trust gap between police and communities,

politicization of security function, structural uncertainties that continue to hinder sustainable

crime and terror prevention (Gjelsvil, 2020).

Statement of the Problem

Despite the government’s effort to heighten the maintenance of peace and security through

Nyumba-Kumi Project, the crime levels are persistently high in Kasarani Constituency in

Nairobi County. OSAC (2020) weekly crime reports that robbery, rape, kidnapping, drug

trafficking, carjacking, theft, violence, bribery, terrorism, civil unrest, money laundering and

vandalism are still elusive in Kasarani Constituency in Nairobi. The effects of persistent crime

have far reached detrimental consequences to the social and economic well-being of the

Kasarani environ and most important the Capital city. For example, in Kasarani, crime index is

227 with top of list offences against other persons, stealing, drug trafficking, economic crimes

and offences against morality (Office of the Chief Inspector, Kasarani Constituency, 2019).

Crime has become an obstacle to public and property safety, security and city development

especially in slum areas of Kasarani. Still in Kasarani, there have been incidences of public order

disruption, impediment of peace, loss of trust in the people living in the area, tension and stress,

health issues related to crime e.g., injuries, pain and suffering, economic costs related to crime

especially in preventing, combating and clean-up environment after crime, the aftermath of

criminal activity, loss of productivity and income among other impacts (Sitienei and Chumba,

2020). The concerns over the uncertainties on the implementation procedures, guidelines, lack

of oversight, poor accountability mechanism and loss of control is still an issue with the

implementation of Nyumba-Kumi project in Kasarani (Gjelsvil, 2020). In Kasarani, the

implementation of Nyumba-Kumi project is hampered by poor police-public mistrust,

politicization of security agencies and structural uncertainties, poor stakeholders’ integration,

budgeting constraints, ambiguous roles, sensitivity of policing tasks, mixed security vs

administrative goals, and other management issues (Gjelsvil, 2020). While community policing

is considered as an effective strategy for identifying and reporting crime planners for