Spatiotemporal Interaction of Urban Crime in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Crime is regarded as one of the major threats to socio-economic development. The variable offending behaviour of criminals is nonetheless little understood. Clusters of crime have direct implications on crime prevention strategies. This study examines variability in offending patterns, based on the spatial and temporal patterns of historical crime. Point patterns of criminal events are mapped over a study area in eastern Nairobi, and the distribution of various types of crimes is examined throughout a 24-months study period. Although various other factors influential to crime are identified, the association between rainy seasons and high rates of crime is distinctly observed.