Kenya’s Vehicle Theft Trends: Most Stolen Cars and Brands Revealed

A report reveals a troubling trend in Kenya’s vehicle thefts, showing that cars with ‘KD’ registration plates and Toyota brands are most targeted. Despite a decline in overall theft numbers, the recovery of stolen vehicles remains low, with only 15.92% being recovered in 2024.

A recent report has highlighted a growing concern regarding vehicle thefts in Kenya, particularly those with registration plates beginning with ‘KD.’ This alarming trend indicates that if the vehicle is a Toyota, the likelihood of theft increases considerably. The Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) reported that 50% of stolen vehicles in 2024 bore ‘KD’ plates, totaling 327 thefts, down from 419 in 2023.

The report reveals that vehicles starting with ‘KD’ were the most frequently targeted, encompassing 50.15%. This was followed by those with ‘KC’ (35.17%), ‘KB’ (10.40%), and ‘KA’ (1.83%). Toyota dominated the statistics, representing 54.91% of theft cases, with other significant brands being Isuzu (12.88%), Mazda (7.06%), Nissan (5.83%), and Mitsubishi (3.99%).

Station wagons, particularly the Toyota Fielder and Subaru Outback, are at the highest risk of theft, accounting for 67.80% of incidents. Other categories at risk include lorries (11.46%), saloons (6.81%), and pickups (3.72%). Additionally, color appears to significantly influence theft patterns, with white vehicles being the most stolen (39.80%), followed by silver (16.72%) and black (15.38%).

Most vehicle thefts involve cars valued under Ksh1 million, while those between Ksh1 million and Ksh2 million account for 26.07%. Vehicles priced above Ksh3 million made up 27.3% of theft incidents. The most valuable vehicle stolen in 2024 was a Mitsubishi lorry, valued at Ksh12.2 million.

The report further indicates that theft of vehicle parts represents the largest category of thefts at 54.28%. Moreover, vehicles stolen while parked accounted for 31.91%, while hijackings represented 7.24% of incidents. Despite a decline in overall thefts, recovery rates remain disappointingly low, with only 15.92% of stolen vehicles recovered in 2024, compared to 11.72% in 2023.

According to the National Police Service (NPS), vehicle theft continues to be a pressing security issue, with 1,687 cases reported in 2023, a rise from 1,459 in 2022. Policymakers strongly urge vehicle owners to implement heightened security measures and stay alert, particularly those with high-risk models.

In summary, the report highlights critical trends in vehicle theft in Kenya, underscoring the heightened risk associated with ‘KD’ registration plates and Toyota vehicles. While theft cases have seen a decrease, the recovery rates remain troublingly low. It is imperative for vehicle owners to bolster their security measures to counteract the ongoing threat of theft.

Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke