KARIBU KENYA - UNON - the United Nations Office at Nairobi

CHAPTER 4: SAFETY & SECURITY
Staying Safe in Kenya
Like much else in Kenya, safety and security in the country are always
relative. For some people, life in Nairobi can seem secure and easy; for many
newcomers, however, it can be plagued by uncertainty and fear. Although
Nairobi does seem to suffer from an unfairly poor press, there is no doubt that
incidents of theft and insecurity have risen in the city in recent years.
Although it is not possible to be completely secure – even if you turn
your home into a fortress of electric fences and razor-wire – a little security
knowledge can go a long way in helping to reduce the risks to your
home, possessions and personal security. Most of the wealthier residential
suburbs in Nairobi have their own neighbourhood watch groups, which
provide local security information, liaise with police, and occasionally run
private patrols during the night. While the most likely time for house
break-ins is between midnight and 5am, daytime at weekends has also
become a popular time for house break-ins – and no time can be deemed
completely safe.
The principal ingredients in any crime are the criminal’s ability and ingenuity
allied to their opportunity to commit the crime. Although you can do
nothing about the criminal’s ability or ingenuity, you certainly can do something
to deny him the opportunity to make you or your dependents his
victims.This is the purpose of the security tips that follow.
The UN Security & Safety Service
Based at the UNON Security Office in G-Block, the UN Security and Safety
Service aims to ensure the safety of all UN staff members in Gigiri, in the
field, and in their homes.As well as providing a rapid response to any security
breaches, the office continuously monitors the wider security situation in
Kenya, keeps records of all security infringements, and submits a monthly
report to the UN Security Coordinator in New York.
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