A recent report from the Association of Kenya Insurers highlights a worrying rise in car thefts, particularly targeting vehicles with ‘KD’ plates and the Toyota brand. Findings indicate that white vehicles are most affected, with a low recovery rate for stolen vehicles. Police urge enhanced security for high-risk vehicles.
A recent report has highlighted troubling trends in car theft across Kenya, indicating that vehicles with registration plates starting with ‘KD’ are primarily targeted. The finding emphasizes that Toyota cars face the greatest risk, with a significant percentage of thefts occurring within this brand.
The Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) noted that in 2024, 50.15 percent of all stolen vehicles featured ‘KD’ plates, comprising a total of 327 stolen vehicles, a decline from 419 in 2023. Vehicles with registration numbers beginning with ‘KC,’ ‘KB,’ and ‘KA’ followed, with percentages of 35.17, 10.40, and 1.83 respectively.
Particularly, Toyota vehicles were most susceptible to theft, accounting for 54.91 percent of reported cases. Other frequently stolen brands included Isuzu at 12.88 percent, Mazda at 7.06 percent, Nissan at 5.83 percent, and Mitsubishi at 3.99 percent.
Moreover, the data revealed that station wagons, particularly the Toyota Fielder and Subaru Outback, faced the highest theft risk, responsible for 67.80 percent of theft cases. Additional targeted vehicle types included lorries (11.46 percent), saloons (6.81 percent), and pickups (3.72 percent).
Color played a role in theft trends, with white vehicles being the most stolen at 39.80 percent, followed by silver at 16.72 percent and black at 15.38 percent. In terms of insured value, most stolen vehicles were valued under Ksh1 million, while vehicles worth between Ksh1 million and Ksh2 million accounted for 26.07 percent of thefts. Vehicles valued over Ksh3 million comprised 27.3 percent.
The report highlighted a Mitsubishi lorry valued at Ksh12.2 million as the most expensive vehicle stolen in 2024. It also stated that theft of parts represented the highest category of incidents at 54.28 percent, while parked vehicles accounted for 31.91 percent of thefts, and hijackings represented 7.24 percent.
Despite a decrease in reported thefts, the recovery rates remained low, with only 15.92 percent of stolen vehicles recaptured in 2024, although this is an improvement over the 11.72 percent recovery rate observed in 2023.
The data has been incorporated into the AKI’s Insurance Motor Database System (IMIDS), which helps alert underwriters prior to issuing insurance certificates for vehicles reported stolen. The National Police Service (NPS) acknowledges vehicle theft as a significant security issue, with 1,687 cases recorded in 2023, an increase from 1,459 in 2022. Police officials have urged vehicle owners to enhance their security measures, particularly those with high-risk models.
In conclusion, the report by the Association of Kenya Insurers reveals a concerning increase in vehicle theft cases, particularly involving vehicles with ‘KD’ registration plates and the Toyota brand. Though there has been a slight decline in total thefts, recovery rates remain low. Stakeholders, including the National Police Service, emphasize the importance of improved security measures for vehicle owners, particularly for high-risk models.
Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke
