Implications of Disarmament on Spatio-Temporal Crime Displacement in North-Rift Counties of Kenya

The use of disarmament as a hotspot policing strategy to contain insecurity has almost become the essential technique relied upon by law enforcement in the bandit-prone North-Rift Counties of Kenya. Yet, little is known about its implications on crime spatio-crime displacement. Using the theory of state society relations; strong societies and weak states’ lens, this article aims to analyse the implications of disarmament, a widely used hotspot policing strategy, on crime displacement. This study used both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The population of the study was residents of the North-Rift Counties. A three-level sampling procedure was used to select the respondents. First, purposive sampling was used to select Turkana, Baringo, and West Pokot counties, the counties worst hit by crime and gazetted as hotspots. Second, two divisions within each county were randomly selected. Third, proportionate sampling was used to distribute the sample population (384) across all the divisions taking into consideration gender balance. Data collected using questionnaires and focus group discussion guides were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings show that spatial and temporal crime displacements were prevalent. Significant associations were established between disarmament and spatial crime displacement; χ²(210, N = 378) = 2180.705a, p = .0001, Cramér’s V = .642; and between disarmament and temporal crime displacement; χ²(180, N = 378) = 2385.546a, p = .0001, Cramér’s V = .725. Disarmament displaced crime spatially and temporally instead of controlling crime indicating the need for comprehensive security strategies. An integrated policing system that incorporates community-led policing initiatives together with hotspot policing strategies could address the spatio-temporal crime displacement.