Youth Unemployment and Crime Rates in Mathare Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya

Youth unemployment remains a major global challenge and is strongly linked to rising levels of criminality, particularly in informal urban settlements. This study examined the relationship between youth unemployment and criminality in Mathare Sub-County, Nairobi, Kenya. The research was guided by Strain Theory and Social Learning Theory to explain how socioeconomic pressures influence youth involvement in crime. The study employed a survey research design using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected from youths aged 18–35 years through questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic content analysis. The findings indicated a strong association between youth unemployment and increased crime rates in the Mathare informal settlement. Many respondents lacked stable income and employment opportunities, exposing them to extreme poverty and making criminal activities such as robbery, drug trafficking, and prostitution alternative survival strategies. High unemployment also increased frustration, idle time, and exposure to delinquent peer groups. The study concludes that youth unemployment is a key driver of criminal activity in informal settlements. It recommends youth-focused education and skills training, fair recruitment practices, economic empowerment programs, and job creation policies as essential strategies for reducing unemployment and crime among youths.