An Examination of Barriers of Criminal Information Sharing Between Law Enforcement Agencies And Their Effect In Crimes Management In Nairobi Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to examine barriers of criminal information sharing between law enforcement agencies and their effect in crimes management in Nairobi County, Kenya. It was necessitated by the fact Kenya faces new security challenges that are likely to go beyond their existing and feasible national and domestic compliance capability. Previous studies indicate that preparedness of many states to deal with insecurity has been wanting because of uncoordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies due to what this study attributes to be barriers of criminal information sharing. This study was guided by four objectives; to examine the type of criminal information that is commonly shared among law enforcement agencies, to assess the individual barriers of criminal information sharing among law enforcement agencies, to establish the organizational barriers of criminal information sharing among law enforcement agencies, and to assess the technological barriers of criminal information sharing among law enforcement agencies in Nairobi County, Kenya. This study adopted a qualitative study design and non- probabilistic sample design paradigms. The main method of data collection was the interview. Interview schedule and key informants guide were used to collect data. A sample size of 47 law enforcement officers purposively selected. Additionally, 10 Key informants were also purposively selected and interviewed to inform the study. The findings of this study indicate that individual barriers, organizational, and technological barriers affected criminal information sharing among law enforcement agencies. Major individual barrier was competition (20%) for credit between the agencies in achieving positive outcomes which was perceived to have a backlash on security operations. Major organizational barriers such as mistrust of other organizations (89.1%), Organizational culture such as culture of secrecy (83.2%). Major technological barriers included; both intra and inter-information technological gaps exacerbated by wanting levels of information technology skills. In conclusion, the range, diversity, and complexity of problems in our information-sharing environment have increased dramatically in recent years. The increment is due to barriers that exist in various security agencies. As a policy measure, the study recommended speedy removal of criminal information barriers at all levels and fast mitigation on both intra and inter-organizational information technological skill gaps. The deeply entrenched culture of secrecy and the need-to-know rather than the need to share information policy should further be re-visited and dealt with. Finally, there is an urgent need for National-wide Criminal Information Management System with certain rights for all law enforcement agencies