Kidnappings in Kenya have been orchestrated by a number of perpetrators. Security Officers, for example, some Kenyan Police Officers were accused of kidnapping the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels (Rono, 2014).
The Mungiki (an organized criminal gang) has been associated with kidnappings in Nairobi and Central Kenya (Hutchinson (2009).
Terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab have kidnapped people in the North Eastern and Coastal regions of Kenya as an act of revenge attacks against the Kenyan government for her military campaign inside Somalia (U.S Department of State, 2014; Tharoor, 2013).
The Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) and Somali pirates have carried out kidnappings in the Coastal region (Gettleman, 2013).
Students (especially university students) have also been accused of perpetrating kidnappings (Kipsang, 2014).
A self-confessed serial killer Phillip Onyancha was accused of kidnapping and murdering a seven-year-old child (Agoya, 2014).
A history of political instability and social conflict with the presence of extremists, eg, radically political, social and religious groups, is also an important factor in determining the risk of kidnapping.
Whilst anyone in any country may be at risk of falling victim to kidnapping, as in the case of a child being snatched or a tourist being kidnapped and a ransom demanded for their release, it is true that certain individuals, due to the nature of their activities and economic or political status, are exposed to a higher risk.
The following are instances where the risk of kidnapping may be predictable:
* Company executives and representatives traveling to countries known to have a high incidence of kidnapping.
* Executives and managers who have substantial amounts of cash or valuables under their control.
* Individuals or company executives/representatives who have a high financial profile and professional status as well as members of their families. Children are particularly at risk in that they are usually easy to find, easy to snatch and, in most cases, guarantee instant financial results for the kidnappers.
* Security personnel handling large amounts of cash or valuables.