Kenya reports drop in crime rates amid massive firearm recovery
By Emmanuel Rono, May 1, 2026Kenya recorded a decline in reported criminal activity for the year 2025, with reported crime rates dropping to 96,038.
According to the 2026 Economic Survey from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), this positive shift in the national security landscape coincided with a breakthrough in disarmament efforts, as the number of illegal firearms recovered or surrendered surged to 1,718 during the year.
The report shows that crimes reported to police fell by 5.1 per cent to 96,038 cases in 2025. Over the same period, police recorded a sharp rise in firearm recoveries, with 427 illegally held guns seized, up from 104 in 2024.
Notably, firearm surrenders surged dramatically to 1,291 in 2025 from just 31 the previous year, while recovered and surrendered ammunition increased to 7,171 rounds from 4,820.
Meanwhile, the quantity of dangerous drugs seized declined to 15,791 kilograms, down from 26,858 kilograms in 2024.
The report further indicated that the number of persons reported to have committed crimes also declined to 99,852.
Reason for the decline
Authorities attribute this decline to enhanced policing and strategic governance, which the report describes as a critical foundation for economic progress. By maintaining a cop-to-civilian ratio of 1:525, the National Police Service has been able to project a stronger presence across the country.
The police workforce saw notable shifts in 2025, with the Kenya Police numbering 68,493 personnel, while the Administration Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stood at 25,697 and 7,460 officers, respectively.
The efficiency of the broader justice system also played a role in fostering a sense of order. The Judiciary disposed of 647,666 cases in 2025, successfully outpacing the 621,525 new cases filed within the same period.
Recovery of firearms
The Director of the Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Adamson Bungei, has revealed that the security agencies are increasingly relying on community participation to recover illegal firearms.
According to Bungei, most of the weapons already retrieved by the government in the recent months were voluntarily surrendered.
Speaking during an interview with K24 TV on Friday, April 24, 2026, Bungei said the government has adopted a multi-agency and community-driven strategy aimed at improving trust and intelligence sharing in affected regions.
“What we do mostly is we sensitise the people. And this is inclusive of the local leaders, first, the local leaders. We call it a multi-agency approach where the government uses the locals: churches, the pastors in the church, those are the people who are always with these people,” Bungei said