SECURITY IMPLICATION OF MUTUAL POLICE AND SOCIETAL CORRUPTION IN EMBAKASI NORTH CONSTITUENCY IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The study was necessitated by increased insecurity in Embakasi North constituency in Nairobi County, notwithstanding the heavy presence of security personnel in the area. According to this study, this was attributed to by mutual police and societal corruption. The study first examined public perceptions on the context of policing and its influence on police corruption in Embakasi North constituency; determined perceptions on the types of police corruption and their influence on security; and further established the relationship between determinants of Police-society corruption and their influence on security in Embakasi North constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya. This study was guided by the Erosion Theory (ET) of corruption explaining why many people get drawn into the vice and premised on the cross-sectional survey design and stratified random sampling techniques, where data was collected from 196 respondents and 10 Key Informants (K.I’s). Main data collection method was the questionnaire. Quantitative data was analyzed with the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). This study unraveled both, Macro and Micro police contextual obstacles where the extent and implications of the state organs such as the legislature, executive, and justice sector institutions suggested corrupt political contexts, hence constraining policing function with criminological approaches to corruption. With reference to the second objective, the study revealed the main forms of police corruption in the area which included receiving bribes to; release suspects from lawful custody, assist suspects evade arrest, cover up criminal activities, reveal police operations; protection of illegal activities, evidence tampering & theft and disclosure of privileged Information amongst others. These forms of corruption benefited organized criminal groups, which were said to be potentially risky to an extent of disabling both individuals and entire institutions, besides seeking state capture; in polity and economy. Finally, the study revealed a deeper relationship between police and society corruption based on determinant factors such as culture (p=0.01), systemic failure of governance (p=0.01), and failed economy (p=0.02). Deeper insight of police corruption seems to draw from a society wide cultural corruption paradigm. This study recommends an anti-corruption approach that goes beyond targeting “bad apples” and adopt a systems approach. Further, Political will from a benevolent dictator with presidential degrees on matters corruption will help crush this cancerous vice to the nib.