Policing Rural Kenya: Practices and Challenges

Policing practices and strategies vary from one environment to another. Whereas there are many studies that have been conducted concerning policing and police behaviour in general, unfortunately, most of these studies have focussed on the problem of policing in general or urban environment, and less on strategies, practices and challenges of policing rural areas in Africa. In East Africa, rural areas continue to witness increasing trends of crime and criminalities and yet, literature on rural policing and police behaviour is scanty. Against this backdrop, this chapter will provide a critical understanding of the current rural policing issues from an East African country, by use of documentary reviews and in-depth analysis of available literature and policy documents. Specifically, the chapter seeks to proof that, rural areas in Africa are distinct and requires distinct policing strategies to effectively combat crimes that occur in these areas. The chapter will also highlight how economic, social, cultural and political factors mutually reinforces each other to promote and impede policing of rural in Kenya specifically. The chapter will conclude by recommending that there is need for specific approaches that address different policing needs of rural environment which can inform development of practical and relevant interventions to problems of crime and criminality in remote and rural areas of Africa.