The Effect of Drug-Related Crime on Community Cohesion in Kibra Sub-County, Nairobi County

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the effect of drug-related crime on community cohesion among residents of Kibra Sub-County, Nairobi County. The study was guided by Social Disorganization Theory, which explains how structural disadvantages such as poverty, overcrowding, and weak social institutions create environments where crime persists and weakens community social bonds. Materials and Methods: The study adopted a convergent mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative component used a descriptive survey design, while the qualitative component employed a phenomenological approach to capture residents lived experiences. The target population consisted of 185,777 residents of Kibra, from which a sample size of 396 participants was determined using Yamane’s formula. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and interview guides, with 338 residents participating in the survey and 29 key informants interviewed. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression analysis, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: The results revealed that drug-related crime significantly affects community cohesion. Correlation analysis showed a weak but statistically significant relationship between drug-related crime and community cohesion (r = -.297, p < .001). Regression analysis further confirmed that drug-related crime significantly predicts community cohesion (F (1,336) = 32.507, p < .001), explaining 8.8% of the variation in community cohesion. Qualitative findings indicated that visible drug selling, youth involvement in drug networks, and the presence of drug hotspots contribute to erosion of trust, fear of retaliation, reduced community participation, and weakened social cooperation. Conclusion: The study concludes that drug-related crime undermines community cohesion in Kibra by weakening trust, reducing social interaction, and disrupting informal social control mechanisms necessary for maintaining neighborhood safety. Recommendations: The study recommends the implementation of integrated community-based drug prevention and control strategies, including dismantling drug hotspots through coordinated law enforcement and expanding rehabilitation.