KARA’s Usalama Mitaani Forum Kicks Off Safer Streets in Kenya

Yesterday the Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) dropped a game-changer with their Usalama Mitaani Programme launch at Nairobi’s 7th August Memorial Park. The vibe was all about bringing communities together to make Kenyan neighborhoods safer, and it was a big deal. Big shots like Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja showed up, alongside folks from resident associations, grassroots leaders, and even private security crews from cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru.

The whole idea behind Usalama Mitaani is simple: safety starts at home, in your estate, or right on your street. With Kenya’s police spread thin (one cop for every 688 people) relying just on them isn’t cutting it. So, KARA’s like, “Let’s get residents in the driver’s seat.” They’re rolling out cool tools like the Hatua App for reporting sketchy stuff, plus forums and training to help neighbors team up with cops and private security to tackle crime. We’re talking small-time stuff like break-ins, which Dr. Omollo said make up over 40% of crimes reported.

One big focus? Cracking down on drug and alcohol abuse, especially among young folks in informal settlements. It’s not just a health thing—it’s a security issue too. The programme’s hooking up with faith groups, NACADA, and police to run awareness campaigns and get people into rehab if needed. The goal’s to stop trouble before it starts.

Here’s the wild part: Kenya’s got over 1.2 million private security guards compared to just 100,000 cops. Usalama Mitaani is tapping into that, bringing private firms into the mix for a true team effort. Dr. Omollo was like,

We have slightly over 100,000 police officers. When you think about it, you begin to appreciate how impossible it is to place officers on every corner, which is why security must be a collaborative effort.

KARA’s CEO Henry Ochieng doubled down, saying it’s all about communities and the government linking up for the same goal: safer streets.

This is just the start. Usalama Mitaani’s kicking off in big cities, but KARA’s got plans to take it nationwide. With over 860 resident associations in their corner, they’re ready to make waves. Dr. Omollo summed it up:

Kenya has over 1.2 million private security officers. This shows the untapped power in public-private-community partnerships.

Yesterday’s launch wasn’t just an event—it was a promise to make Kenya’s neighborhoods safer, one street at a time. Here’s to more wins like this!