Homicide Among Police Officers in Nairobi City County, Kenya: Causes and Effects

Abstract

This study specifically analyzed the causes and effects of homicide among police officers in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The General Strain Theory explained how occupational stress, interpersonal disagreements, poor working conditions, discriminatory deployment policies, and personal conflicts such as love triangles generate strain that can lead to deliberate homicide among police officers. The study used a mixed-method design with 318 respondents purposively and stratified randomly sampled from police divisions in Nairobi City County. Data were collected through questionnaires and key informant interviews, and thematic analysis was applied to organize qualitative insights, providing a comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of police homicides. This study observed that the majority of homicide cases among police officers are deliberate rather than accidental, with occupational stress, disagreements between junior and senior officers, and poor working conditions emerging as primary drivers. The effects include post-traumatic depression, guilt, fear of recurrence, and intense lack of motivation, all of which negatively impact job performance and organizational cohesion. This study proposes early identification of at-risk officers, mandatory stress management programs, and the establishment of confidential peer support systems to address root causes before they escalate into lethal violence.