COMMUNITY POLICING AND CRIME PREVENTION IN 

EMGWEN SUB-COUNTY, KENYA 

 

 

 

KIBIRA NELSON AVOGA 

 

 

 

A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED FOR THE PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE 

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS OF ARTS IN PUBLIC 

ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT DEGREE OF  

MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY 

 

 

NOVEMBER 2024



 

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DECLARATION AND APPROVAL 

DECLARATION BY STUDENT 

This research project report is my original work and has not been presented for an award in any 

other University. 

 

 

Signed ……………………………………………. Date ………………………………………. 

KIBIRA NELSON AVOGA 

MPAM/2017/72139 

 

 

SUPERVISOR’S APPROVAL 

I sign confirm that this research work presented was carried out by the student under my guidance 

and supervision. 

 

DR ISAAC ABUGA 

MOUNT KENYA UNIVERSITY 

 

 

 



 

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DEDICATION 

This academic piece is dedicated to my late Dad, Avoga David Kibira for laying a strong academic 

foundation upon which I have walked this journey 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

I greatly thank God for the good health, sound mind, wisdom, care and courage he granted me, that 

has made it possible for me to achieve this research project. I sincerely appreciate the whole support 

and ready-tireless guidance offered to me by my supervisor Dr Isaac Abuga during my research 

project writing. Am very grateful to my mum Kegehi Alice wa Mugaji for her unwavering support, 

love and care, my siblings Mary, Fred, Jackline, Maurice, Victor, Everlyne and Binzany for being 

there to keep me going. Special thanks to my daughter, Joy Venus Kavugwi, for allowing me to be 

far from her as I undertook this task. Special thanks to my best role models Shigali and Shikali for 

the overwhelming encouragement they gave me. 

 

 

 

 

 

  



 

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ABSTRACT 

This study focused on community policing as an initiative towards crime prevention in Emgwen 

Sub-County in Nandi County, Kenya. It was based on the objectives: the effectiveness of 

community partnership with police and crime prevention in Emgwen Sub County; the perception 

and attitudes of local people and police officers towards crime prevention; and the effectiveness of 

capacity building of the members of the community towards crime prevention in Emgwen Sub 

County. The study used the Broken Windows Theory and the Collective Efficacy Theory as part of 

theoretical review. The study established why there is still continued crime rates in Emgwen Sub 

County yet there are policing measures in place. This research used descriptive research design to 

study the dimensions of CP towards crime prevention. This study used quantitative and qualitative 

research methodologies. Primary data was gathered using structured questionnaires while existing 

journals were the main source of written information. The target population was the assistant 

commissioner, the 3 OCSs, 86 police officers, the 4 chiefs, the 12 assistant chiefs, 45 village elders, 

92 nyumba kumi agents and 1 367 adults selected randomly from the nyumba kumi clusters. A 

sample size of 320 was selected. The assistant commissioner, the Officers in Charge of Police 

Station, the chiefs and the assistant chiefs formed a sub-sample of key respondents. A pilot study of 

the research instruments was conducted to check the validity and reliability of the research 

instrument to be used in the study (Ronald, 2017). The pilot used 5% of the sample size for piloting 

the study instruments. Lawshe’s formula was used to determine the content validity. Cronbach's 

Rule of Thumb was used to establish the reliability of the questionnaires by piloting 16 respondents. 

Data was collected from the key respondents by use of interviewing while questionnaires were 

administered to the police officers, villager elders, Nyumba Kumi agents and the selected adult 

residents as the general respondents. The respondents were sampled from all the villages, wards, 

police stations and nyumba kumi clusters in Emgwen Sub County. Calculation of data into 

percentages, mean and standard deviations have been used to provide summary and analysis of the 

data. The quantitative data was analysed by a computer software - Statistical Package for Social 

Science. The Pearson Correlation analysis was used to check the level of effectiveness of 

community participation in preventing crimes. The analysed data was presented using frequency 

tables, line and bar graphs and charts. The qualitative data has been summarized into written notes. 

The research established that a mutual relationship between the police and the locals, a good 

perception and attitude towards community policing and capacity building helped to prevent and 

reduce crimes in Emgwen. This research recommends the government to implement the existing 

community policing measures, conduct more public awareness campaigns on community policing 

and enhance capacity building towards all the stakeholders. This research recommends further 

studies on the state and implementation of capacity building and why there are more crime cases in 

Emgwen Sub County and other marginalized areas.  

 

 

 

 

 



 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DECLARATION AND APPROVAL ................................................................................................. ii 

DEDICATION .................................................................................................................................... iii 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................................. iv 

ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................................... v 

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................... vi 

LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................................. ix 

LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................. x 

ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................... xi 

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................................. 1 

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1 

1.1 Background of the Study ................................................................................................................... 1 

1.1.1 Community Policing .................................................................................................................. 1 

1.1.2 Crime Prevention ....................................................................................................................... 2 

1.1.3 Community Policing and Crime Prevention .............................................................................. 2 

1.1.4 Crime Prevention ....................................................................................................................... 3 

1.2 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................................. 8 

1.3 Purpose of Study .............................................................................................................................. 10 

1.4 Objectives of the Study.................................................................................................................... 10 

1.5 Research Questions ......................................................................................................................... 11 

1.6 Justification of the Study ................................................................................................................. 11 

1.7 Significance of the Study ................................................................................................................. 13 

1.8 Scope of the Study ........................................................................................................................... 14 

1.9 Limitations of the Study .................................................................................................................. 14 

1.10 Delimitations of the Study ............................................................................................................... 15 

1.11 Assumptions of the Study ................................................................................................................ 15 

1.12 Operational Definition of Key Terms .............................................................................................. 16 

CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................................... 18 

LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................................. 18 

2.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 18 

2.2. Empirical Literature .............................................................................................................................. 18 

1.1.5 Effectiveness of Community Partnership with Police ............................................................. 18 

1.1.6 Perception and Attitude of the Local Residents and Police Officers ....................................... 20 

1.1.7 Effectiveness of Community Capacity Building. .................................................................... 22 

2.3. The Theoretical Review of the Study ................................................................................................... 24 

2.3.1 The Broken Windows Theory ................................................................................................. 24 

2.3.2 Theory of Collective Efficacy ................................................................................................. 26 

2.4. The Conceptual framework .................................................................................................................. 28 



 

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2.5. Research Gaps ...................................................................................................................................... 29 

CHAPTER THREE............................................................................................................................ 31 

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ............................................................................. 31 

3.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 31 

3.2. Research Methodology .................................................................................................................... 31 

3.3. Research Design .............................................................................................................................. 31 

3.4. Study Area ....................................................................................................................................... 31 

3.5. Target Population ............................................................................................................................ 32 

3.6. Sample Size and Sampling Technique ............................................................................................ 33 

3.7. Data Collection Instruments ............................................................................................................ 34 

3.8. Pilot of the Research Instruments .................................................................................................... 35 

3.8.1 The Validity of Research Instrument .............................................................................................. 35 

3.8.2 The Reliability of Research Instrument .......................................................................................... 36 

3.9. Data Collection Procedures ............................................................................................................. 37 

3.10. Data Analysis Methods ................................................................................................................ 37 

3.11. Data Presentation ......................................................................................................................... 38 

3.12. Ethical Issues ............................................................................................................................... 38 

CHAPTER FOUR .............................................................................................................................. 40 

RESEARCH DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND PRESENTATION ......................... 40 

4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 40 

4.2 Response Rate ................................................................................................................................. 40 

4.3 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents ........................................................................... 40 

4.3.1 Gender Distribution of the Respondents.................................................................................. 40 

4.3.2 Age Distribution of the Respondents ....................................................................................... 42 

4.3.3 Marital Status Distribution of the Respondents ....................................................................... 43 

4.3.4 Distribution of the Respondents by their Level of Education ................................................. 44 

4.3.5 Employment Distribution of the Respondents ......................................................................... 45 

4.3.6 Distribution of the Respondents According to Length of stay in Emgwen ............................. 46 

4.3.7 Residents Awareness on Community Policing Initiative ........................................................ 47 

4.4 Validity and Reliability of Research Instruments ............................................................................ 48 

4.4.1 The Validity of Research Instrument ....................................................................................... 49 

4.4.2 The Reliability of Research Instrument ................................................................................... 49 

4.5 Effectiveness of Community Partnership with Police ..................................................................... 50 

4.5.1 Contribution of Community-Police Relationship .................................................................... 50 

4.5.2 Effectiveness of Police Patrols in Preventing Crimes ............................................................. 51 

4.5.3 Rating of how the police relate with Residents of Emgwen Sub County ................................ 52 

4.5.4 Reporting to the police of suspicious persons or activities ...................................................... 53 

4.5.5 Consultation by the police on matters of security ................................................................... 54 

4.5.6 Aspects of Community Partnership with Police ...................................................................... 55 



 

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4.6 Perception and Attitudes of Locals and Police ................................................................................ 56 

4.6.1 Improved Security and Reduced Level of Crime .................................................................... 56 

4.6.2 Effect of the Attitudes of the Locals and the police ................................................................ 57 

4.6.3 Developing and maintaining trust between police and community ......................................... 59 

4.6.4 Aspects of Perceptions and Attitudes of Emgwen Residents and Police Officers .................. 60 

4.7 Effectiveness of Community Capacity building .............................................................................. 61 

4.7.1 Forms of Capacity Building .................................................................................................... 62 

4.7.2 Level of Community Capacity Building.................................................................................. 63 

4.7.3 Role of Community Capacity Building on Preventing and reducing Crimes .......................... 64 

4.7.4 Practices of Community Capacity Building ............................................................................ 65 

4.7.5 Police involvement in Strategic Planning. ............................................................................... 66 

4.7.6 Civic Education Programmes .................................................................................................. 67 

4.8 Discussion of Research Results ....................................................................................................... 68 

4.8.1 Effectiveness of community partnership with police .............................................................. 68 

4.8.2 Perception and Attitudes of the Local Residents and Police ................................................... 70 

4.8.3 Effectiveness of community capacity building in crime prevention ....................................... 71 

4.9 Normality Test ................................................................................................................................. 73 

4.10 Pearson’s Correlation and Regression Analysis .............................................................................. 73 

4.10.1 Pearson's correlation coefficient .............................................................................................. 75 

CHAPTER FIVE................................................................................................................................ 77 

RESEARCH SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................ 77 

5.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 77 

5.2. Summary of the Research findings .................................................................................................. 77 

5.3. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 79 

5.4. Recommendations for practice ........................................................................................................ 80 

5.5. Recommendations for further researches ........................................................................................ 81 

REFERENCES................................................................................................................................... 82 

APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................... 89 

Appendix I: The Letter of Introduction ....................................................................................................... 89 

Appendix II: ERC certificate ....................................................................................................................... 90 

Appendix III: Consent Form........................................................................................................................ 91 

Appendix IV: Questionnaire ........................................................................................................................ 94 

Appendix V: Interview Guide ..................................................................................................................... 98 

Appendix VI: Turnitin Report ................................................................................................................... 100 

Appendix VII: Map of Study Area ............................................................................................................ 102 

Appendix VIII: NACOSTI Permit ............................................................................................................ 103 

Appendix IX: Crime Analysis per County in 2021 ................................................................................... 104 

 



 

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LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1: Emgwen Sub County Population ......................................................................................... 32 

Table 2: Target Population ................................................................................................................. 33 

Table 3: Sampling Frame ................................................................................................................... 34 

Table 4: Cronbach's Alpha Likert Scale ............................................................................................ 36 

Table 5: Gender Distribution of the Respondents .............................................................................. 41 

Table 6: Age Distribution of the Respondents ................................................................................... 42 

Table 7: Marital Status Distribution of the Respondents ................................................................... 43 

Table 8: Education Level of the Respondents ................................................................................... 44 

Table 9: Employment Distribution of the Respondents ..................................................................... 45 

Table 10: Length of Stay of the Respondents in Emgwen Sub County ............................................. 46 

Table 11: Awareness Period of Nyumba Kumi of the Respondents.................................................. 48 

Table 12: Agreement Level of Residents on Community-Police Relationships on Community 

Policing .............................................................................................................................................. 50 

Table 13: Effectiveness of police patrols in preventing crimes ......................................................... 51 

Table 14: Rating of how the police relate with Residents in preventing crimes ............................... 52 

Table 15: Reporting of suspicious persons or activities to the police ................................................ 53 

Table 16: The Urgency of Reporting of suspicious persons or activities to the police ..................... 53 

Table 17: Consultation by the police on matters of security.............................................................. 54 

Table 18: Aspects of Community Partnership with Police ................................................................ 55 

Table 19: Agreement Level on Improved Security and Reduced Level of Crime ............................ 57 

Table 20: Agreement Level on the effect of Attitudes of the Locals and the Police on 

implementation of Community Policing. ........................................................................................... 58 

Table 21: Level of Agreement on whether developing and maintaining trust between the police and 

members of the community enhance the success of Nyumba Kumi Initiative .................................. 59 

Table 22: Aspects of Perception and Attitudes of the residents on Nyumba Kumi Initiative ........... 60 

Table 23: Level of Community Capacity Building ............................................................................ 63 

Table 24: Practices of Community Capacity Building ...................................................................... 65 

Table 25: Level of Police Involvement in Strategic Planning ........................................................... 66 

Table 26: Community partnership with the police verse reduced crime rates ................................... 74 

 

  

  



 

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LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework ...................................................................................................... 28 

Figure 2: Length of Stay in Emgwen Sub County ............................................................................. 47 

Figure 3: Response on Forms of Capacity Building .......................................................................... 62 

Figure 4: Role of Community Capacity Building .............................................................................. 64 

Figure 5: Response on existence of Civic Education Programmes ................................................... 67 

Figure 6: Scatter Plot.......................................................................................................................... 75 

Figure 7: Degree of Correlation Relationship .................................................................................... 76 

 

 

  



 

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ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS 

CCB – Community capacity building  

CLOs –Community Liaison Officers 

CP – Community Policing 

GoK – Government of Kenya.  

NKI –Nyumba Kumi Initiative 

NCRC – National Crime Research Centre 

NPS - National Police Service 

OCS – Officer in Charge of Police Station 

S.D –Standard deviation 

UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 

 

 

 

 

 

  



 

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CHAPTER ONE 

INTRODUCTION 

1.1 Background of the Study 

 Emgwen Sub County is part of the former Nandi Central District Division which was in Nandi 

District currently Nandi County in Kenya. The sub county is headed by an assistant county 

commissioner. It has four locations namely: Kapkangani, Kilibwoni, Chepkumia and Kapsabet. 

There are also chiefs, assistant chiefs, village elders and nyumba kumi agents who help the police 

officers in maintaining order, peace and safety of the community. Despite this, the area continue to 

suffer from criminal activities which prompted a critical research in the area to identify the 

effectiveness of community policing in the area.  

1.1.1 Community Policing 

Community policing is to a philosophy that enhances community and government strategies and 

techniques that promote organised use of partnership between the community and law enforcement 

agencies to proactively solve problems related to safety of the community by detecting and 

suppressing crimes (Anicient, 2014). Community policing calls for involvement of all the 

community members in a given region to help the police and other law enforcement agents to 

reduce and prevent crimes from happening. Community policing dwells much on crimes and social 

disorders experienced in the society by use of police services with the partnership and engagements 

of the community members in the prevention and reduction of crimes and offer problem-solving 

skills. Community policing demands that the police and citizens join hands together with the aim of 

identifying, detecting and effectively addressing security issues (Mwachidudu & Likaka, 2014).  

Community policing is a general concept that describe the various measures, techniques and 

programs that involve community members in maintaining their safety and ensuring the 

environment is secure from crimes (Rowe, 2014). According to Nyanya (2017), community 



 

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policing is an approach that advances the shared responsibility between the police and the 

community in ensuring their environments are safe and secure from crimes and intended criminal 

activities.  

1.1.2 Crime Prevention  

According to UNODC (2010) crime prevention includes all the measures put in place to detect and 

reduce occurrence of crimes and harm on members of the community by suppressing their sources. 

Crime prevention is an important component of the current government strategies on planning 

for public security and safety. It is the mandate of all the governments of the day to create a safe 

environment and maintain order as measures of controlling and preventing crime. As per our old 

saying, “Prevention of occurrence of an illness is better and easier than treating and curing the 

diseases and its effects. This old wisdom has been taken into consideration by most governments in 

the world in matters of criminal activities. Crimes and violence affecting the wellbeing of a 

community, an individual, a country’s economy and developments. Criminal activities to be 

deterred are homicides, rape cases, abuses, suicides, robberies and civil unrests (Tracey, 2002). 

According to Sutton, et al. (2021), Crime prevention is an important tool of maintaining security 

and safety of communities that involves the techniques, strategies and initiatives that aim at 

addressing the existing causes of crime and establishing prevention efforts creating environments 

that are not conducive for criminal behavior hence reducing the occurrence of criminal activities. 

1.1.3 Community Policing and Crime Prevention  

Community policy was focused on ensuring that members of a community take part in formulation 

of initiatives, measures and policies that would prevent and reduce crime. There exists various 

policies in the world that deal with crimes and insecurities. According to Patterson (2007), 

community policing is traced back when community constables were introduced by Sir Robert Peel 

in the newly created Metropolitan London Police District in the early 19th century. Sir Robert Peel 



 

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idea of “the police are the public and the public are the police” came into utilisation during this 

period. This statement therefore calls for the community members to be involved in providing 

solutions to the problems of crime and disorders affecting them and the community (Fridell & 

Wycoff, 2004).  

Community policing facilitates partnership between the police and the local residents so that a trust 

is built to easily seek security assistance from law enforcers. CP operates on the principle that 

criminals and their accomplices live in the same communities within which they commit the crimes. 

These crime perpetrators are known to the community and therefore the community can play a very 

magnificent role of manning them and hence reduced crime rates (Mwachidudu & Likaka, 2014). 

According to Mwaniki & Maroko (2020), the main role of community policing is keenly observe 

and identify the nature of community problems which affect the safety and security of the 

neighborhoods and offer the necessary solution.  

1.1.4 Crime Prevention 

Between 16th and 18th centuries, Britain experienced a significant rise in population of the rich and 

the poor due to industrialization process. This triggered new challenges to the existing disorders 

such as growth and development of crimes. This made the English elites to be concerned about 

being victimized by criminal activities of the unemployed poor people who were in the London 

streets. This brought about the doubts on the capabilities of the British police to deal with the new 

effects of urbanization. This, therefore, implied that there was the need for changing role of the 

London Metropolitan Police from being crime fighter to a public order maintaining agency. Robert 

Peel was therefore appointed as the head of London Metropolitan Police by the British Parliament 

because its commission had failed to provide solutions to crimes. Sir Robert articulated for a 

fulltime professional paid police force that was to solve that London’s crime problem which was 

finally enacted by the parliament. This law led to the first full-time police officers who were sworn 



 

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in and paid being in order prevent crime and ensure order is maintained in London streets. Sir 

Robert emphasized that poor policing style was the major cause of social crimes. Though there 

existed police officers in London, there continued emergence of crimes in the area. The same case 

exists in Emgwen Sub County. He established nine principles that helped to improve community 

policing hence crime prevention and reduction (Peak & Glensor, 2004:2). Sir Robert recommended 

the use of the community partnership with the police in maintenance of order and preventing 

disorder in the community. This is the main principle in today’s community policing philosophy 

(Keith, 2002, p. 111). There is, therefore, the need to examine the effectiveness of the partnership 

between the residents of Emgwen and the police in combating crimes.  

For many years in 19th century, Nigeria had been under military rule but it returned to democratic 

rule in 1999. The democratic periods in Nigeria was faced with increased crimes and fear of 

insecurities (Dambazau, 2007). Many stakeholders in security sector believed that the traditional 

policing could hardly manage the new trends of organized and professional crimes and disorder. 

This prompted the Security and Justice System of Nigeria to engage in efforts that would promote 

partnership between the public and the police for the purposes of reducing crimes and fear 

experienced in Nigeria. Nigeria Police Force (2010) affirms that a major reforms in the Nigerian 

police was the implementation of the strategies of the CP. The strategy called for the adoption of 

partnership between the police and the citizens in 2003 to identify and effectively address crime. 

Emgwen Sub County, though smaller than Nigeria, experiences the same organized crimes yet there 

exists community partnership with the police in preventing crimes. There was a strong urge by the 

researcher to check how effective the community partnership with the police is in Emgwen Sub 

County (Dickson, 2007).  

Community policing adopted in early 1990’s in South Africa had the aim of democratizing the 

police service and make it legitimate. Some years later, the police service was democratized and 

legitimized leading to improved service delivery and monitoring of crime issues which built a 



 

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strong mutual trust amongst the police and the local community members. With this, the police 

aimed at protecting the citizens of South Africa against crimes in goodwill without political 

discrimination, racial, gender and ethnical favorism. The police became accountable to the 

community and therefore had to act in full respect and professionalism in order to get approval from 

the public. This, therefore, brought about community partnership in the fight against controlling and 

preventing crime efficiently and effectively (Muchira, J. M. 2016). This brought about community 

partnership with the police as a measure of fighting crimes in South Africa. Kenya has embraced 

this partnership idea in its community policing measures. However, though it is practiced in 

Emgwen Sub County, there exist continued criminal activities in the area which prompted the 

researcher to determine its effectiveness in preventing and reducing crimes (NPS: Crime Situation 

Report, 2018).  

Though Ethiopia fully achieved national community policing in 2005 as a policy, its development 

started quite a number of years ago (Lisa D, & Kassaye D, 2013). The Ethiopian Federal Police 

started trainings in community policing in Addis Ababa in 2004 through the use of invited British 

trainers. Thereafter, some selected senior police officers attended further training in Europe. When 

these trained officers came back they also trained the others on the community policing approaches 

and strategies. Later in 2010, community policing training was officially included in the training at 

Amhara Regional Police consultation with a Canadian police officer. (Mulugeta E, & Mekuriaw D, 

2017). In Kenya, the local administration personnel are trained and equipped with the necessary 

skills to fight crimes but there still exist crimes in Emgwen Sub County (NPS: Crime Situation 

Report, 2018). This engineered the researcher to conduct an investigation into the effectiveness of 

capacity building of the community in preventing crimes in Emgwen Sub County.  

According to Muchira (2016), Tanzania successfully adopted and implemented village level system 

of security called `Nyumba Kumi`. This model has helped to reduce criminal conducts in 

Tanzanian. The main aim of Nyumba Kumi in Tanzania was to prevent crime acts. According to 



 

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Muchira (20216), the citizens were to share with the police the data about each other. Although the 

police are still the law enforcers, Nyumba Kumi ensured existence of a joint police-society 

relationship. Tanzania adopted the Sekaran and Bougie (2011) principle that “police alone cannot 

take care of the existing crimes.” This model ensured that the police officers and the immigration 

officers in a given locality knew those who were staying in hotels around, those who were renting 

and living in the houses around, those who owned the available properties, and those who were 

moving in and out of the villages in the whole of Tanzania. Immigrants into Tanzania were not 

supposed to rent and stay in houses, hotels or arrive in any village without the report reaching the 

police and immigration officers within 24 hours. The police kept the trace and record of such 

people. The police in Tanzania become knowledgeable of the happenings in their area of 

jurisdiction for proper community policing. With the success of community policing in Tanzania, 

the Kenyan Government adopted the same to at least help prevent and reduce crimes in Kenya 

(Kenyatta Uhuru, 2013). Emgwen, despite the police and security agencies embracing community 

partnership, there is still crime thriving in the area. This, therefore, necessitated the need to conduct 

a research on the effectiveness of community partnership with the law agencies and the efficiency 

of community capacity building in fighting and preventing crimes in Emgwen Sub County.   

Zwane (2004) states that Uganda introduced Community Policing in 1989 with the Community 

Liaison Officers being the special officers in charge. The CP initiative is managed through 

organization of public seminars with the aim of educating the local citizens about the role of the 

police in curbing crimes and how to conduct the neighbourhood vigilance programmes. These form 

part of the CCB in Kenya especially in Emgwen. The CLO officers have promoted CP through 

establishment of strong communication link between the Ugandan police and members of the 

communities. There exist established strong community-police communication linkages through the 

nyumba kumi agents in Emgwen yet criminal activities are reported by the police (NPS; 2023). This 



 

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research sought to establish the effectiveness of the community capacity building and community 

partnership with the police in Emgwen since there are still existence of crimes in the area.  

The eruption of post-election conflicts and violence in Kenya between 2007 and 2008 called for 

reforms in the National Police Service so that there would be a better relationship and cooperation 

between the Kenyan police and Kenyan communities. There was an establishment of a National 

Task Force whose mandate was mainly to investigate the post-election violence. The taskforce 

recommended that security agencies should embrace CP strategy to reduce and prevent crimes 

occurrences. This was enshrined in the New 2010 Kenyan Constitution. Kenyans were therefore 

empowered as agents of maintaining peace and managing security when the new constitution was 

promulgated in August 2010. Currently, Kenya is practicing community policing under the Nyumba 

Kumi Security Initiative. This initiative has been thought to be the main solution for the prevailing 

crimes and disorders because in makes the local citizens to interact freely and share information of 

any criminal activities about and among themselves. The initiative encourages the citizens to 

monitor crime threats and security issues in their surrounding neighborhoods and communicate the 

security information to the police. The NKI has its main focus on maintenance of order so as to 

achieve safety, prosperity and sustainability of the neighborhoods and not leaving the police as the 

only security agents.  

Community policing Initiative in Kenya, painted as ‘Nyumba Kumi’ was put in place in 2013 by His 

Excellency President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta under a presidential order when he took office. He 

stated, "No matter how much we do, there will never be one policeman for everyone and unless we 

work together with the security forces, the responsibility lies on me and you." The Nyumba Kumi 

Community policing initiative was also called for when Kenya was faced by the terror attack at the 

Westgate. Nyumba Kumi Initiative strategy based at the household levels was aimed at fighting and 

preventing major crimes, arresting major criminal gangs and improving peace in Kenyan villages 

(Wamaitha et al., 2019). Nyumba kumi initiative is being practiced in Emgwen since its part of 



 

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Kenya. We have the nyumba kumi agents who have a direct link to the police. They are mandated 

to communicate to the police any security threat or any matter that require security attention. But, 

with all these in place, Emgwen still faces crime threats and criminals activities. Muchangi (2016) 

claims that very little efforts have been put in place regarding the CP strategies being used to ensure 

improve security in Kenya. The researcher emphasizes that NKI awareness is needed for its 

effective implementation yet the Kenyan citizens, the security agencies and the police do not have 

the willingness of understanding the working of the NKI model which hinders the effective 

implementation of Nyumba Kumi strategy to prevent crime in Kenya. With these in place, the 

researcher, therefore, sought to highlight effective implementation of the Nyumba Kumi initiative 

and crime prevention within Kenyan communities through a case study of Emgwen Sub County by 

narrowing down to community partnership with the police, perception and attitudes towards 

community policing and capacity building of the community.  

1.2 Statement of the Problem 

The world security environment experiences new and advanced security challenges which require 

new and advanced approaches, policies and strategies in handling them. The current world has 

taken a dynamic humanity with development of new and sophisticated crime types and trends 

(Ellison, 2012). These crimes types and their patterns have surpassed the traditional centralized law 

and order enforcement agencies. Many Commonwealth nations, including Kenya, have embraced 

CP as a security technique of dealing with crimes and disorders (Minnaar and Ngoveni, 2014). 

However, despite this fact, Kenyan counties continue to experience crimes.  

According to Thenga & Justice (2018), the world has had rapid developments in the relationship 

between the police and the citizens over the last few years. This has led to scholars developing 

interest in studying and examining security issues. The advanced relationship, coordination and 

cooperation between the police and citizens has led to Community Policing being considered both 



 

9 

as a security management measure and as a practice. The development of CP has majorly been 

developed by the urge to keep the local citizens safe as well as the need for the police to cooperate 

and coordinate with the citizens in order to achieve the success of crime reduction. Many researches 

have failed to properly and in details describe the implementation of NKI as a successful 

community policing tool thereby leaving a gap for more researches to be done on its 

implementation with the aim of reducing and preventing crime (Telep & Weisburd, 2012). Gill et al 

(2014) confirms that from the many researches that have been done, CP is the main pillar of 

building trust between the police and the local citizen for purposes of ensuring a safe community.  

According to Wanjohi (2014), in his study in Machakos County on the influence of community 

policing on crime reduction in Kenya, he confirms the existence of a strong positive partnership, 

participation and cooperation between the members of the community and the police towards 

implementation of community policing. However, his research did not focus on the effectiveness of 

the partnership in crime reduction and prevention. This study therefore focused on the effectiveness 

of community partnership with the police towards crime prevention.  

According to a research done in Nairobi by Kimilu (2003), the research brought out that most 

residents and the police of Nairobi County did not understand very well the concept of community 

policing. However, the researcher did not highlight the attitudes and perception of the residents and 

the police towards community policing initiatives. Nairobi and Emgwen, being part of Kenya, 

experience the same challenges and issues in terms of community policing. This, therefore, calls for 

the keen and in-depth analysis of the perception and attitudes of the local residents and the police 

towards Nyumba Kumi initiative and crime prevention in Emgwen Sub County.  

From the research done in Kibera in Nairobi by Kiprono (2007), he did point out that the residents 

did not clearly understand their role in managing crimes through community policing due to poor 

implementation programmes, principles and practices. He alluded that there was little civic 



 

10 

education and laxity by the government to provide resources to help reduce and prevent crimes. 

Kiprono concluded that inadequacy in empowering the public and the existing mistrust between the 

police and the public hinders the effective sharing of information by the residents to the police. 

However his research did not point out how effective capacity building of the community would 

help in implementation of community policing. These discoveries influenced the researcher to look 

keenly on the effectiveness of the community capacity building in prevention and reduction of 

crime through a case study in Emgwen Sub County.  

The research done by Lwanga (2023) in Lurambi Sub County revealed that enough awareness about 

community policing had been done but recommends further studies and investigations on the 

effectiveness of the capacity building of the police and community members for purposes of crime 

reduction and prevention. Lwanga’s recommendation prompted for this research to be done in 

Emgwen Sub County in order to analyse the effectiveness of CCB in reducing and preventing 

crimes.  

1.3 Purpose of Study 

The study aims at investigating the community policing initiative and crime prevention in Emgwen 

Sub-County in Nandi County in Kenya. 

1.4 Objectives of the Study  

(i) To determine the effectiveness of community partnership with police on crime 

prevention in Emgwen Sub County. 

(ii) To establish the perception and attitudes of the local residents and the police towards 

Nyumba Kumi Initiative and Crime Prevention in Emgwen Sub County. 

(iii) To find out the effectiveness of community capacity building in crime prevention in 

Emgwen Sub County. 



 

11 

1.5  Research Questions 

(i) To what extend is community partnership with the police effective in prevention of 

crime in Emgwen Sub County wards? 

(ii) How do the police service and the local citizens perceive the Nyumba Kumi Initiative 

towards prevention of crime in Emgwen Sub County?  

(iii) How effective is capacity building of the community in preventing crime in Emgwen 

Sub-county?  

 

1.6 Justification of the Study  

Community policing is a measure aimed at preventing and reducing crimes in the society by 

creating a more orderly environment, free from crime and deviance from proper norms. Though CP 

is being practiced in Emgwen Sub County, there still exists a lot of insecurity threats such as theft 

of property, robberies and violence (NCRC, 2021). Most populated areas of Kapsabet Town and 

Nandi Hills are the mostly affected regions in terms of crimes. With this happening, there exist a 

need for a robust discussion and strategies to curb it. Therefore, the purpose of this study research 

project is to analyse how effective the community partnership with the police programs and 

strategies are managing security issues and crimes in Emgwen Sub County.  

Since community policing mainly focuses on how best community can participate in crime 

prevention with partnership with the police, having the right perception and attitudes and capacity 

building of the community (Sherman and Eck, 2002), this research project tried to examine the 

perceptions and attitudes of the locals towards their participation in handling security concerns and 

how they can help and partner with the police in maintaining order in the society. The findings of 

this study will help the police and security agents understand the expectations, feelings, attitudes 



 

12 

and the perceptions of the local people thus make informed decisions concerning community 

policing.  

Community policing focuses on putting the public as the frontiers in the plans, programs and 

policies meant to reduce and prevent crime. This capacity building programs exist but still the 

police continue to show increase in crimes in Emgwen (NPS: 2023). However the previous 

researches have not provided for effective ways, plans and programs that can fully implement 

community policing in Emgwen Sub-County. This research therefore focused on the dimensions of 

CP in Emgwen in order to provide a clear understanding and effective implementation of the same. 

Members of the community will also get a clear understanding of their roles, expectations, efforts 

and achievements from the findings of this study thus making the NKI a success.   

According to Nganju, T. G. (2015), Emergence and increase in crime rates has elicited a lot of 

concerns to many Kenyans especially those in charge of ensuring public safety. Effects of crime are 

huge on social, economic and political life. Although CP was adopted in Emgwen Sub County to 

put together all the stakeholders to prevent and stop criminal activities and community unrest, crime 

rates increase still remain a headache to the same stakeholders. The results of this research will 

therefore play an important role to the stakeholders in ensuring that security and social order is 

maintained and crimes prevented. The findings will also help policy makers, policy strategists and 

implementers to enhance their capabilities in policy formulation and implementation for the success 

of Nyumba Kumi Policing Initiative. Law making bodies mandated such as the Kenyan 

Parliaments, County Assemblies and the Cabinet will also get important information from this 

research findings on the prevailing gaps and challenges thus formulate new security policies to 

address the concerns in the research study. Academic scholars, patriotic citizens, Non-

Governmental Organizations and community level organizations will also make use of the research 

findings to get more knowledge on NKI in terms of enhancing community policing.  



 

13 

1.7 Significance of the Study  

The whole world regards CP as a major significant and the most effective development strategy for 

preventing crimes in the recent world. This concept builds the Kenyan Nyumba Kumi Initiative, 

thus studying CP in details and its implementation contributes to providing strategies of dealing 

with crimes through implementation of CP (Mulugeta, E & Mekuriaw, D. 2017 P4). 

The information gathered will help Governments of Kenya and other nations to assess the 

achievements of Nyumba Kumi policing initiative in solving the prevailing insecurities. This will be 

attained through analysis of how the Nyumba Kumi initiative is significantly bringing order and 

peace in the country. The government may use the information from the study to formulate control 

strategies, policies and planning towards implementation of NKI strategy of CP.  

The study will benefit the police, security agencies and other security stakeholders as they will be 

aware of how effective Nyumba Kumi initiative is and outline areas that need more policing efforts. 

The local community will also benefit from this study as the local citizens will know their expected 

roles and contributions in community policing initiative towards having an improved security. The 

findings of this study will provide a clear state of the level of CP awareness to both the police and 

the local communities. 

This study has provided more information on the progress and state of community policing and 

prevention of crime in Emgwen Sub County communities. NKI is a young emerging strategy in 

Kenya and therefore has scanty literature. This study has more literature on CP which will be used 

as future reference resources in researches on implementation strategies, dimensions and success of 

NKI and crime prevention in Kenyan communities. 



 

14 

1.8 Scope of the Study 

This study was done in Emgwen Sub County (formerly known as Nandi Central District) in Nandi 

County, Kenya. The study mainly looked at the community policing and crime prevention in 

Emgwen Sub County. This study examined how effective community policing was in preventing 

crime in the area. The study sought to establish why there was still prevalence of criminal activities 

despite there being working community policing strategies by specifically confining the study to: 

whether the community partnership was effective in crime prevention in different locations of 

Emgwen Sub County; the perception and attitudes of the police and the local residents towards CP 

in preventing crimes; and community capacity building in community policing in preventing crime 

in Emgwen Sub County. The study was done in the between December 2023 to April 2024.  

The study population included the assistant commissioner, the OCSs, police officers, chiefs, 

assistant chiefs, village elders, nyumba-kumi agents and adult population. The key informers were 

the police officers commanding stations, the chiefs, the assistant chiefs and the assistant county 

commissioner. The chiefs were found in the 4 locations in the Sub County. The police officers are 

stationed in the four police stations; Kapsabet Police Station, Nandi Hills Police Station, Kaimosi 

Police Station and Kilibwoni Police Station.   

Data was collected by conducting interviews on the key respondents and through the administration 

of questionnaires to the police officers, villager elders, Nyumba Kumi agents and adult residents. 

The respondents were sampled from all the wards, police stations, chief camps, assistant chiefs’ 

offices and villages in Emgwen Sub County.  

1.9  Limitations of the Study 

The limitations of a study are the natural challenges which influence research studies negatively 

which must be overcome and controlled by the researcher (Mugenda and Mugenda, 2003). The 



 

15 

researcher had a challenge of collecting data due to the fact that the researcher had no control on the 

attitudes of respondents during the study because they may fear victimization. Some respondents 

were unwilling to share information related to crimes while others might have even given wrong, 

inaccurate or false responses. Some respondents were reluctant to give out required information 

which required the researcher to assure them of their privacy and confidentiality by obtaining their 

consent before carrying out the research. Most residents in Emgwen Sub County are Nandi 

speaking and therefore there was a challenge of a barrier of communication. The researcher had to 

use the services of an interpreter in order to overcome this. The area of study is a vast region 

characterized with many hills, rivers, valleys, forests and unmaintained muddy roads which made 

the study to take longer to collect the data. To overcome these obstacles, the researcher sampled out 

easily accessible areas during a pilot study in Emgwen Sub county. 

1.10  Delimitations of the Study 

This study took place within Emgwen Sub County with the main focus being on the community 

policing initiative and crime prevention. The variables of interest were community-police 

partnership, perception and attitude of local residents and the police arm; and Capacity Building of 

the Community. The assistant commissioner, the 3 OCSs, 86 police officers, the 4 chiefs, the 12 

assistant chiefs, 45 village elders, 92 nyumba kumi agents and 1 367 adult population formed the 

target study population with a sample size of 320. The study mainly used administration of 

questionnaires and interviews as data collection instruments. 

1.11 Assumptions of the Study 

This study assumed that Emgwen Sub-county has the best sample that provided true data willingly 

without the fear of being victimized. The researcher assumed that the respondents were a 

representation of the whole population hence met the threshold for generalization and conclusion 

about the entire population. The study assumed that the interpreter used gave accurate translations 



 

16 

without biasness. The study assumed that all the areas of study were accessible. Lastly, the 

researcher assumed that the respondents provided true, exact and accurate information to the 

researcher without fear of being victimized by the criminals and the administration. 

1.12 Operational Definition of Key Terms  

Capacity Building – it’s the state whereby the local community members and security agencies are 

equipped with the needed resources, skills and knowledge for use in active 

performance and participation in community policing 

Chief – an administrator in charge of a location 

Collective Efficacy – it is the condition and state whereby an individual or a community has the 

ability to prevent or reduce crimes in an area.  

Community Partnership – this involves the collaboration, cooperation and participation by the 

whole members of the community with the police and other law agencies to 

prevent and reduce crimes  

Community policing - this is a security measure which requires members of the public to 

voluntarily participate in preventing and reducing crime 

County – it is an administrative unit above a sub-county headed by a governor e.g. Nandi and 

Nairobi 

Crime prevention: - this is the identification and eliminating intended prior crimes from happening 

such as alerting the police of any suspicion.  

Implementation - This is the execution of a programme or measure to solve a problem 



 

17 

Location - an administrative unit below a sub-county headed by a chief such as Kapkangani and 

Kapsabet  

Nyumba Kumi – this is a CP strategy based at the household level or members of village clusters. 

Perception – this is conception of an idea 

Security –it involves the state of having the protection and safety of oneself, community or property 

from dangerous attacks and loss. 

Stakeholder – this is an individual with a similar interest in a certain issue or matter. 

Sub- County – it is an administrative unit below a county and above a location. Many sub counties 

form a county e.g. Emgwen  

  



 

18 

CHAPTER TWO 

LITERATURE REVIEW 

2.1.  Introduction 

The review of both the theoretical and empirical literature, conceptual framework and the research 

gaps have been presented in this chapter.  

2.2. Empirical Literature 

1.1.5 Effectiveness of Community Partnership with Police 

The view on the capacity of the community to prevent crimes can be realized through social 

relations has been seen as not effective and failure because the poor neighborhoods and the local 

residents are strongly connected through the relationship of blood. This connection or linkage has 

failed to provide for the control of crimes and disorders. There is no trust and willingness of the 

members of the community to share important criminal information hence not easy to reduce or 

prevent crimes (Morenoff, Sampson, & Raudenbush, 2001).  

Community policing as a philosophy promotes utilization of partnerships between community and 

police with an aim of suppressing criminal environments that give opportunities to the occurrence 

of insecurities like fear, crime and social disorder. Community policing aims at pushing the public 

to be at the front line in formulating the programs, plans and policies that will prevent crime 

(Weisburd and Eck 2004).  

The strong trust that exists between the communities and police have shown relevance in 

maintaining order and safety in respective communities. The police majorly need the support, 

willingness and partnering of the public to get information on crimes in order to prevent and reduce 

crimes. Community policing focuses on how best a community can participate in prevention and 



 

19 

reduction of crimes as opposed to the traditional policing which focused more on the police as the 

only ones to prevent and reduce crimes (Skogan and Frydl 2004). 

Police-community partnership is founded on establishment and maintenance of a mutual trust. For 

example, in the past during a crime, the police would beg the citizen to provide information to assist 

in investigation. But with the current CP, the police have become part of the community which 

makes it easier for the police to get information that helps identify and prevent crimes, help the 

crime victims and solve domestic/community conflicts. There exist many objective community 

policing programs in the world. The objective of such relationships is meant to enhance 

communication between police and the local citizens. All the established community policing 

programs aim at establishing and maintaining fruitful working relationships and coordination 

between the police and the public with the intention of reducing and preventing crime (Wehrman & 

DeAngelis, 2011, p.50-51). 

Skogan (2006) states that police have emphasized the community partnership in the developed 

English speaking countries since the early 1980s. He therefore gives emphasis on the same as a key 

remedy for reducing and preventing crime within a community. He advocates for the police-public 

consultation on how to develop responses and mobilise resources to prevent and reduce crimes. The 

communities should involve and incorporate the police services if CP is to be fully achieved. CP 

should involve identification of security issues and needs of a community and be channeled to the 

police for appropriate measures to be taken.  

Successful police-community partnership relies strongly on trust-based relationships between 

officers and civilians. CP is being seen by the law enforcement agents, governments and scholars as 

the most effective way of resolving tensions between the police and community members towards 

reducing crimes. Police-community relation has been neglected by the world in combating crimes. 

For effective-efficient efforts in preventing crimes, many law enforcement entities have established 



 

20 

collaborative partnerships with the communities. Such relationships and partnerships have 

facilitated trust between the police and community members (Kearns, 2017). 

Police partnerships with business operators, social service providers, leaders of the community, 

healthcare providers and more community members form part of the police-community partnership 

required for prevention and reduction crimes. These has never been given more emphasis in the past 

and hence the need for initiation of Nyumba Kumi Initiative in Kenya. Citizens need to provide the 

information on crimes in their neighborhoods to the police and also help in providing possible 

solutions. These collaborations are important and beneficial in reducing and preventing crime. 

Sharing of information between the police, security agencies and the locals has greatly helped in the 

management of security issues in the many areas. Information sharing has enables easy circulation 

of important information among all members of a community. However, lack of transparency and 

confidentiality a time limit implementation of NKI (Nicholas & Muna, 2021). 

The community has a major role in the quest to prevent and reduce crimes. This role builds the 

confidence between public and police through bringing together the civil society, the law enforcers, 

and local people to promote neighborhood security for safe environments hence reducing and 

suppressing crime rates. All the above studies affirm that community members and the police need 

to partner in order to help reduce crimes. However, the studies did not investigate whether the 

public-police partnership played the intended role of reducing and prevention of crimes hence the 

need by the researcher to determine its effectiveness through a case study in Emgwen Sub County.  

1.1.6 Perception and Attitude of the Local Residents and Police Officers 

The success or failure of any idea or theory depends on the attitude and perception of those 

involved. The achievement of the goals and objectives of NKI largely depends on the perception 

and the attitude of the police and community members. According to Cordner, the way in which the 

police enforce law mostly impact a negative feeling of interaction from the local residents. The 



 

21 

police should therefore act in a manner that will attract a positive interaction with the community 

members. Creating a positive interaction environment with the members of the community yields 

more benefits such as enhanced community-police trust, familiarity of the issues affecting the 

community and the police being provided with the information about criminal activities taking 

place within the community. This helps in reducing and preventing crimes (Cordner, 2010).  

The use of traditional methods such as community patrols and rapid responses did not actually 

reduce crime but brought uneasiness, fear and tension. The police units should ensure they 

understand the community very well through developing positive attitudes with the residents; being 

close and available to the community so that they can willingly reveal to the police criminal actions; 

and police be able to provide solutions to all issues affecting the community. When there are 

positive community perceptions of the local community members and the police, there is reduced 

levels of crimes (Sherman and Eck, 2002).  

The police largely depend on the information from the public in order to act and provide solutions 

the existing problems. However, this has become a big challenge because most citizens do not want 

to involve the police in their daily businesses because of mistrust and misconception about the 

police. They instead wish to have familiar people to handle their issues and problems. The police 

and public attitude on CP has a significant role towards implementing the Nyumba Kumi Initiative. 

The NKI focuses on community security meetings, monitored neighborhoods, citizen advisory 

boards, house to house visits and foot patrols. These programs make the local citizens feel satisfied 

with police force which develops a positive perception and attitude towards sharing of information 

about criminal and security with the police. The makes the people feel more satisfied and 

comfortable interacting with the police through developing strong mutual trust with the police and 

feel the police care about their security and safety issues thereby sharing information on crimes 

(Wazed and Akhtar, 2015).  



 

22 

According to Kenya Police (2014), community members need to volunteer and cooperate with the 

police hand in hand in giving out information about suspected criminal activities in achieving the 

goals of community policing in Kenya. Community members should also help the victims of crime 

through counselling. The police also require the citizens to understand that security begins with 

one-self. 

The above literature focused on the public and the police participating in the control, prevention and 

reduction of crimes. The studies encouraged members of the community to voluntarily give 

information concerning crimes. However, the contexts do not look at the attitude and perception of 

the stakeholders who include the police and the community members towards implementation of 

community policing measures. This might be the reason why crimes continue to thrive despite there 

being community policing in Kenya. This prompted the researched to conduct a study on the same 

in Emgwen to analyse how the reception of the community policing is among the public and the 

police.  

1.1.7 Effectiveness of Community Capacity Building.  

Capacity building is the process of capacity development by which community members or 

organizations are equipped with resources such as skills, tools, knowledge and equipment to 

become competent. This will make the community to achieve the goal of reduced crimes and also 

preventing crimes from happening. Generally, CP calls for active community involvement and 

participation in economic and social growth of the community in managing their neighborhood 

safety. Capacity building for a successful CP requires that the community and security agencies be 

equipped with adequate skills, infrastructure and appropriate equipment (Potter et al., 2014). 

Skogan (2006) argues that policing needs the immediate community to actively involve itself in 

enforcing the law so as to be part of order maintenance. When the community members are 

empowered to actively participate in CP measures it becomes easier to identify and solve issues 



 

23 

affecting the community, address fear of crimes and increase visibility of the police thus increasing 

the trust in police in maintenance of peace and order (Nyaura & Ngugi, 2014). The research by 

Nyaura and Ngugi (2014) did not investigate if the empowerment of the community did help to 

reduce and prevent crime.  

Decentralization of community policing strategies to grassroots level should be emphasized in order 

allow the locals to own the decision making process. Barley cites examples such as: commercial 

and business people create their own security forces or hire private security personnel to protect 

them and their properties. He explains why the residential areas in the community have their own 

security systems that monitor security in their premises. He also looks at the essence why 

organizations such as banks, supermarkets and big companies hire private security personnel to 

protect their entities. He also examines why the citizens who are not paid volunteer to assist in 

prevention of crime through providing the police with important security information. He therefore 

indicates the need for an empowered community through CCB to prevent and stop crimes by 

themselves (Bayley, 1994). However, Bayley did not tell us whether the CCB of the community 

members was effective in prevention of crimes.   

Currently, we can identify many community policing initiatives and practices around the world. CP 

is seen as both a philosophical strategy and operational strategy. According to Friedman (2013, p. 

292) community policing is a strategy and also a policy that aims at achieving an efficient and 

effective control of crime, reduce fear of criminal occurrences, improve the quality of people’s life, 

improve police service to humanity in a proactive manner by using community resources to 

suppress crime causing environments.  

In the literature of Makini and Marenen (2017) community policing involves many styles such as 

reassurance policing, intelligence based policing, problem-solving policing, and community-based 

policing, having regular patrols and holding consultative meetings. They further emphasize that 



 

24 

CCB can also be strengthened by providing more resources to the community members which will 

increase their social control within the community thus preventing and reducing crimes.  

According to Brunton-Smith and Bullock (2019), community groups and organisations take center 

stage in solving many of the problems existing in most communities. When community 

organizations have the capacity to work together effectively, a sustainable safe community is 

achieved because of existing problem solving techniques and cooperation between the community 

members and the police. The researchers argued that the resources that gave the community the 

capacity to fight crimes were necessary but they did not prove whether that capacity building was 

effective. This made the researct to conduct a study and ascertain whether the community capacity 

building was effective in preventing and reducing crimes in Emgwen Sub County, Kenya.  

2.3. The Theoretical Review of the Study  

A theory may be described as a set of proven conclusions, constructs, propositions and definitions 

that systematically explains the relationship between a given phenomenon and given variables with 

the main intention of explaining the phenomenon in details. Community policing has had a 

theoretical perspective. Theories have been put in place by a number of scholars to explain designs, 

implementation and constraints of CP. The study used the theories of Broken Windows and 

Collective Efficacy to explain CP and crime prevention in Emgwen Sub-County, Nandi County, 

Kenya. 

2.3.1 The Broken Windows Theory 

This theory was put forward by in 1982 by Kelling and Wilson to examine disorganization by 

stating that disorders lead to criminal acts that need to be stopped as soon as they emerge to avoid 

them spreading to other areas. The theory holds that if one of the windows in a house is destroyed 

and is left not repaired, after some time the other windows will also break. This idea of one 



 

25 

damaged window remaining unattended to is an indication that no one around the building cares 

and soon other windows will also break and that no serious action will be taken. In relation to 

community policing, this theory points out that disorders and crimes relate and that the police 

should focus on the disorders that bring about crimes which affect the quality of life in the 

neighboring communities (Wilson & Kelling, 1982). 

They argued that disorders are the sources of crimes and that the resultant fear of crimes weakens 

the social cohesion among residents of a single community. They further state that if a given area 

has unattended to disorders, it will attract other forms of disorder. Kelling and Wilson state that 

when small crimes are allowed in the society they create high disorder levels which may lead to 

larger crimes and more violence. This theory puts more emphasis on promoting social cohesion 

together with community participation in elimination of social and physical identifiable signs of 

crimes in the neighborhoods. Therefore, the police and other security organs should work closely 

and in harmony with the community in order to eliminate any signs of insecurity and criminal 

intentions in the community in order to prevent crime (Wilson & Kelling, 1982). 

This theory was tested in a study by Skogan (2006). In his study, Skogan used statistical models to 

highlight the existing connection between disorders and robbery incidences at the neighborhood 

levels in a given community. In 1990, Sampson together with Raudenbush re-examined this theory 

and concluded that disorder does not cause crime but instead disorder and crime result from low 

collective efficacy. This theory generalizes that social and physical disorders lead to a breakdown of 

social control creating a crime prone environment. 

This theory, therefore, calls for immediate prevention of a crime in a community so as to avoid 

other crimes and this can only be done successfully through nyumba kumi strategy. With regard to 

this theory, the GoK introduced nyumba kumi initiative as a way of dealing with disorder with an 

aim to preventing criminal activities in Kenyan communities (Wilcox & Cullen, 2010).  



 

26 

This theory was used to analyse the effectiveness of police-community partnership and the capacity 

building of the members of Emgwen community with regard to addressing the broken windows 

which relates to minor offences in order to prevent other major offences. 

2.3.2 Theory of Collective Efficacy 

Another theory for analyzing community policing and crime for this study is the theory of 

Collective efficacy which posits that unity, cohesion and willingness of community members 

potentially decrease crimes.  

The theory of Wilson and Kelling in 1982 hypothesized that disorder results to a high degree of 

influence in the decline of community relations and contributes to increase in crime rates in a 

neighborhood. Broken windows theory translated to a no-tolerance approach in practice by stating 

that cracking down on minor crime will reduce major crime. Braga, Welsh, and Schnell (2015) also 

found out that the literature beyond broken windows policing have no strong association with 

reduced crime. They suggested that other security innovations like community policing and patrols 

have played a big role in reducing crimes.  

The Sampson’s Theory of Collective Efficacy states that strength of communal cohesion and 

willingness to participate in CP will reduce and prevent crimes in their area. The theory emphasizes 

that collective efficacy is dependent on social and structural characteristics of the community to 

explain crime rates. The study by Sampson hypothesized that varying levels of collective efficacy 

among different communities accounted for the variations in levels of crime. The authors further 

established that communities were negatively impacted by concentrated economic and social 

disadvantages such as low job opportunities, poor quality of policing, and high crime but were 

positively impacted by residential stability. The ability of community members to control disorders 

is important in maintaining order within the community. The neighborhood-level concept ensures 



 

27 

members of the community assume ownership and create a sense of community agency for the 

betterment of their local community (Uchida, Swatt, Solomon, & Varano, 2014). 

The description of this theory describes the individual’s capacity to act for their community due to 

mutual goals, interests, and values as well as existence of trust among community members. Lack 

of this individual capacity brings about community impotence which can be harmful to minority 

communities with high rates of crime (Petrosino & Pace, 2015). Sampson put more emphasis on the 

willingness of residents to partner with the community for building a lasting mutual trust and strong 

unity in preventing crimes within the community. Existence of fear and distrust brings out informal 

social control which impacts negatively on collective efficacy. High residential mobility rate caused 

demographic changes weaken a community’s collective efficacy. Race and class segregation leads 

to a further decrease in collective social control because it increases social isolation of low-income 

residents, single parents, and other minorities (Sampson, 2004). 

Collective efficacy was used in this study to support CP and prevention of crime in Emgwen Sub-

county. Collective efficacy extends CP beyond the community members to include police agencies 

in the community on building strong relationships with the main aim of curbing crime rates.  This 

theory was of great benefit to this study by helping in analysis of the attitudes and perceptions of the 

community and the police towards implementation of NKI and crime prevention in Emgwen Sub 

County.  

 

 

 



 

28 

2.4. The Conceptual framework 

Independent Variables  Intervening Variable    Dependent Variable 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework 

Source: Research Data (2024) 

Community Capacity 

Building 

• Forms of Capacity 

Building 

• Socio-economic 

development of the 

Community 

• Decentralized 

community policies 

and strategies  

• Civic education/ 

empowerment 

Perception and attitudes 

of residents and police 

officers 

• Mutual trust 

• Police-Community 

Interaction 

• Information 

confidentiality  

• Police response 

Community 

Partnership with the 

Police 

• Mutual relationship 

• Sharing Information  

• Consultation and 

collaboration 

• Proper 

communication 

• Confidence and trust 

Crime Prevention 

• Reduced crime 

rates 

• Mutual trust and 

cooperation  

• Positive police-

community 

relations 

Government 

Policies 

• Resources  

• Public 

awareness 

and 

empowerment 

• Police Patrols 



 

29 

Figure 1 above shows the conceptualization of how dependent variables and the independent 

variables are related in the study. The conceptual framework employed by the study of CP and 

crime prevention in Emgwen Sub-county in Kenya. The conceptual framework is based on the 

theories of Broken Window and the theory of Collective Efficacy. The independent variables 

conceptualized were the following: community partnership with police; attitudes and perception 

and of the police and the local residents; and community capacity building. The intervening 

variables were policies and legal framework of community policing. These interventions 

contributed in measuring the failure or success of community policing. The dependent variable was 

crime prevention which was seen as achieved through many results such as reduced crimes, mutual 

cooperation, and positive relationship public-police relationship. . 

2.5. Research Gaps 

According to Mwangi (2012), one of the aims why the NKI was introduced in Kenya was to 

improve the partnership relationship between the police and community in order to reduce and 

prevent crimes by introducing problem-solving approaches. Mwangi emphasizes that community 

members should be in the forefront to identify and report crimes; and to, arrest and reform criminals 

because most crimes take place within the community. With all this in place, prevention of crimes 

still remins a big challenge in Kenya including Emgwen Sub-county in Nandi County. 

Crime continues to raise in Emgwen Sub County as per the 2014 report of the Kenya Police. The 

Sub County has put forward good policing measures but crime rates remain high. The gaps needed 

to be effectively dealt with are the effectiveness of community policing in preventing crimes; 

attitudes and perception of the police and public towards CP; and the effectiveness of Capacity 

Building of the Community in Crime Prevention 

Wanjohi (2014) ascertains the existence of positive cooperation and partnership between the police 

and the community towards crime prevention. However the researcher did not focus on its 



 

30 

effectiveness in crime control and prevention. This study therefore focused on the effectiveness of 

community partnership with the police towards crime prevention.  

According to Barasa (2016), most citizens get to know more about CP through public meetings and 

since these meetings rarely happen most of them are not aware of CP as a measure to curb crime 

rates. The researcher did not study the effectiveness of capicty building of the community towards 

crime prevention. This study therefore focused on the effectiveness of CCB in Crime prevention in 

Emgwen.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

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CHAPTER THREE 

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 

3.1.Introduction 

This chapter describes the research methodology, research design, the area of study, the target 

population, sample size, sampling techniques, how data was collected, analysed and presented; and 

the ethical issues.  

3.2.Research Methodology 

According to Creswell (2014), a research methodology involves the procedures for collecting and 

analyzing statistical data. The researcher mainly used interviews and questionnaires as the main 

quantitative methods. The researcher also conducted book and written-document review as a 

qualitative method of collecting data.  

3.3.Research Design 

According Maykut (2003),  a research  design  is  a  blue-print that deals  with  four main concerns 

of a research which include: the research questions, the collection of the relevant data, data analysis 

and the adopted research design. A descriptive type of research design was employed in studying 

the dimensions of CP and crime prevention in Emgwen.  

3.4.Study Area 

This study was conducted in Emgwen Sub County (formerly part of Nandi Central District) in 

Nandi County, Kenya. Emgwen Sub unit boarders Chesumei to the North, Kakamega North to the 

West, and Nandi South to the South. It has four wards, namely: Kapkangani Ward, Kilibwoni Ward, 

Chepkumia Ward and Kapsabet Ward. The wards are governed by an elected Member of County 

Assembly (MCA) while at the same time the wards form a location which is headed by a chief. The 



 

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location has 12 sub sections called sub locations that are headed by assistant chiefs who report to 

the chief. It lies on 368.4 sq. Km of land with a population of not less than 158, 952 persons 

(KNBS, 2019). Population distribution per location is shown in table 1.  

 

Table 1: Emgwen Sub County Population 

LOCATION POPULATION 

Chepkumia   21, 283 

Kapkangani   23, 994 

Kapsabet    64, 830 

Kilibwoni   48, 845 

TOTAL 158, 952 

Source: Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (2019) 

 

3.5.Target Population 

Population is described as a group of objects, individuals or phenomena that have observable and 

common identifiable characteristics from which a researcher wants to form a general conclusion 

about a population under a study (Mugenda and Mugenda, 2003). In this case study of Emgwen, the 

target population comprised of the assistant commissioner, the 3 OCSs, 86 police officers 

distributed in the 3 police stations, the 4 chiefs, the 12 assistant chiefs, 45 village elders, 92 nyumba 

kumi agents and 1 367 households distributed among the 45 villages.  

 

 

 

 



 

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Table 2: Target Population 

THE RESPONDENTS TARGET POPULATION 

Assistant County Commissioner 1 

Officers Commanding Stations 3 

Chiefs 4 

Assistant Chiefs 12 

Village Elders 45 

Police Officers  86 

Nyumba Kumi Agents 92 

Households  1 367 

TOTAL 1 600 

Source: Office of the Assistant County Commissioner, Emgwen Sub County 

 

3.6.Sample Size and Sampling Technique 

A sample size includes a fraction of the population chosen for a study, survey or experiment while 

sampling involves the processes of collecting the sample for purposes of studying it to represent the 

whole population (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). When using any sample size, we must consider a 

sampling error because you can never be 100% sure that your statistics are a complete and accurate 

representation of the whole population. The researcher used Taro Yamane’s Formula (Yamane, 

1973). This formula has a 95% confidence level. The Yamane’s formula ensures calculation of an 

ideal sample size gives a desired margin of error of the population.  

Yamane’s formula is given by: 𝑛 =  
𝑁

1+𝑁(𝑒2)
 where; 

n -is the needed sample size,  

e -is the desired sampling error (i.e. margin error), 

N -is the population under study. 

For this case study, we have: 



 

34 

𝒏 =  
𝟏𝟔𝟎𝟎

𝟏 + 𝟏𝟔𝟎𝟎(𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝟐)
= 𝟑𝟐𝟎 

The assistant commissioner, the police officers commanding stations, the chiefs and the assistant 

chiefs formed a sub-sample of key informants. The remaining law enforcement agents were 

sampled using 10% of their number according to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003) while the 

remaining number was topped up by selecting 3 adults were randomly sampled from each of the 

existing 92 nyumba kumi clusters.  

 

Table 3: Sampling Frame 

RESPONDENTS SAMPLE SIZE PERCENTAGE 

Assistant County Commissioner 1 0.31 

Officers Commanding Stations 3 0.94 

Chiefs 4 1.25 

Assistant Chiefs 12 3.75 

Village Elders 4.5 = 5 1.56 

Police Officers  8.6 = 9 2.81 

Nyumba Kumi Agents 9.2 = 10 3.13 

Adult population 92×3 =276 86.25 

TOTAL 320 100 

Source: Research Data (2024) 

3.7.Data Collection Instruments 

According to Mohajan (2018), research instruments include all the methods that were used to 

collect information and data from the target sample during the study. Structured interview guides 

and questionnaires were used in collection of primary data. The questionnaires were composed of 

both closed and open ended questions. According to Mugenda and Mugenda (2003), closed ended 

questions should have listed choice of required responses to be selected by the respondents hence 

considered to be easier to use, analyse and therefore more economical to use as it saves time and 

money. Secondary data was collected through desktop and review of the available books on 



 

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community policing in countries like USA, China, Britain, New Zealand, Tanzania, Uganda and 

Kenya. 

3.8.Pilot of the Research Instruments  

The research was proceeded by a pilot of the research instruments. A pilot of study instruments is 

an important step for the success of any research. It is meant to check the validity and reliability of 

the research instrument to be used in the study (Ronald, 2017). According to Cooper & Schilder 

(2014), a good study has to have a percentage of 5-10% of the sample undergoing pilot study test. 

This study used 5% of the sample size for the piloting of the study instruments. This study did not 

use the respondents used in pilot studying in collection data. 

3.8.1 The Validity of Research Instrument 

Validity involves the processes of determining whether the instrument in use is measuring what is 

meant to and performs as designed. Validity is about the accuracy of a measure. This is meant to 

confirm whether the questionnaires assess their anticipated tasks or how true the findings of the 

study are (Golafshani, 2003). The researcher used Lawshe’s formula below to determine the content 

validity. 

 

Where; 

CVR- Content validity Ratio 

ne- The Number of rating an item is marked as “essential” 

N-Total number of respondents of the questionnaire 



 

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3.8.2 The Reliability of Research Instrument 

This research employed the Cronbach's Rule of Thumb to establish whether the questionnaires were 

reliable. Reliability refers to consistency of a measure. That is, when data is re-collected over time 

using the same process and tools, the results are the same throughout. Golafshani (2003) suggests 

that Cronbach’s Alpha need to be at least 0.7 indicating the instrument is adequate. The formula 

below is used to get coefficient alpha: 

𝛼 = (
𝑁

𝑁−1
) (1 −

∑ 𝜎𝑖
2

𝜎2
) Where: 

𝛼 is coefficient alpha  N is the number of items, 

𝜎𝑖   is the variance of one item, 

∑ 𝜎𝑖
2 is the sum of variances of all items, and 

𝜎2 is the variance of the total test scores. 

Rule of Thumb for Cronbach’s Alpha 

Cronbach’s Alpha Results for the rule of thumb interpretation is shown in the dichotomous or 

Likert scale below:  

Table 4: Cronbach's Alpha Likert Scale 

 

Source: https://www.statisticshowto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/CA2.png 

https://www.statisticshowto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/CA2.png
https://www.statisticshowto.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/CA2.png


 

37 

3.9.Data Collection Procedures 

Prior to data collection, an introductory letter from Mount Kenya University was acquired and used 

as a key introduction to respondents during administration of questionnaires and interviews. The 

letter explains the reason and intention of the study, the need for the respondents’ responses, the 

authorization office of the study, and a confidentiality statement. This introduction letter was 

accompanied the questionnaires during distribution.  

The questionnaires were circulated directly to the selected respondents and collected back after 

three days. Structured interviews were administered to the Assistant County Commissioner, OCSs, 

chiefs and the assistant chiefs at a maximum of two respondents a day excluding weekends. 

Collection of data took place from December 2023 up to April 2024.  

3.10. Data Analysis Methods 

According to Tromp and Kombo (2006), analysis of data involves the in-depth examining of data 

collected to make conclusions and inferences. Data analysis involves categorizing, arranging, 

manipulating, and summarizing data to answer research questions. The aim of data analysis is to 

reduce the large volume data collected to an intelligible and interpretable state so as to answer 

research problems. Generally, data analysis is the process of making sense of the collected 

information. The quantitative data was coded and analysed by use of a software called Statistical 

package for Social Science (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. Descriptive statistics of calculation of 

percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to give the research summary. This study also 

used the Pearson Correlation and Regression Analysis to check the level of effectiveness of 

community participation in implementing the NKI towards crime prevention. 

According Burnard et al., (2008) the analysis of qualitative data used both deductive and inductive 

approaches. Deductive approaches used involved the use of a structured or predetermined theory to 



 

38 

analyse the collected data while the inductive approaches involved analysing the data with little or 

no predetermined framework. Inductive analysis used the actual data collected to the framework 

and the structure to be used for analysis. Inductive analysis is the most suitable because little or 

none in known about the study. However, being so comprehensive it is time-consuming.  

Analysis of qualitative data involved data reduction, data display and drawing conclusion. The 

qualitative data collected was typed into text and analysed by content analysis, narrative analysis, 

conversation analysis, thematic analysis and semantic interpretation. The data in form of descriptive 

notes such as the data that was observed was converted into written notes and categorized into the 

major issues that were identified based on themes and sub-themes (Stake, 2010). After grouping of 

the data into themes and sub themes, the major themes were then sorted and coded to make further 

sense from it. This involved reducing the large chunk data in to small and manageable descriptive 

themes (Merriam, 2014) 

3.11. Data Presentation 

The quantitative data that was collected was presented by use of tables, charts, line and bar graphs. 

Qualitative data are items or information in verbal forms with theoretical significance. They were 

presented in summary notes according to the themes in the research questions. The researcher wrote 

a report of the findings as a presentation. The report has all the details of all the findings in chapters 

as identified in the objectives of the study (Burnard et al., 2008). 

3.12. Ethical Issues 

Wallen (1993) refers to ethical issues in a given research as the regulations and guidelines to be 

observed during a study to avoid conflicts. The investigator obtained permission from all relevant 

authorities before carrying out a research study.  The data from the respondents was given a lot of 

confidentiality. The researcher ensured the participants’ confidentiality of the information they gave 



 

39 

by making it unavailable to those not involved directly in the study. All research literature used in 

the study was acknowledged through proper referencing to avoid plagiarism. The principle of 

voluntary participation was highly considered such that respondents were not coerced into 

participating in research. The respondents were briefly informed of the research so as to provide 

their consent for data collection to take place. 

 

  



 

40 

CHAPTER FOUR 

RESEARCH DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND 

PRESENTATION 

4.1 Introduction 

This chapter presents the research findings, analysis, presentation and discussion of the research 

findings with regard to the objective of the research. The research involved respondents who were 

adult women and men who were affected mostly by various crimes in Emgwen Sub-County, Nandi 

County. The results were analysed into percentages, mean and standard deviations. The interpreted 

findings and results are presented in tables, charts and graphs. 

4.2 Response Rate 

300 questionnaires were given out to respondents but only 270 responded positively which 

represents a positive a response rate of 90 %. This response rate is good because it is more than 

three quarters of all the respondents. All the 20 key informers were interviewed.  

4.3 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents 

Based on the questionnaire and interview guide used during the study, the demographic information 

of the respondents was gathered which include gender, age, marital status, education level, 

employment status and length of stay in Emgwen. 

4.3.1 Gender Distribution of the Respondents 

The researcher inquired the gender of the respondents and how they were distributed across 

Emgwen Sub County. The summary information of the respondents by gender is given in Table 5 

below. 



 

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Table 5: Gender Distribution of the Respondents 

 Questionnaires  Interviews  

Gender Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  

Male  160 59.3% 12 60% 

Female  98  36.3% 8 40% 

Unstated  12    4.4% 0 0 

TOTAL 270 100% 20 100% 

Source: Research Data (2024) 

As tabled in Table 5 above, majority of the respondents were male at 59.3% for those that filled the 

questionnaire and 60% that were interviewed while the female were low at 36.3% and 40% for 

those that undertook the questionnaires and interviews respectively. This is a likely indicator that 

measures and matters of community policing are majorly taken care of and dominated by the males. 

The most probable reason for this gender disparity in CP could be attributed to the traditional 

gender role of the men being the role provider of security and protector of the community making 

the women to be less concerned with matters of their security. This finding implies that there is 

need for women to be more enlightened and empowered in community policing just as the males. 

This would make more women to be involved in maintaining the security of the community by 

being part of community policing frontiers.  

As per the findings 4.4% of the respondents found it not necessary to state their gender. This could 

mean that some members of the community have not being informed of their roles as either men or 

women hence the likely undeclared gender. 



 

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4.3.2 Age Distribution of the Respondent