Security Strategies Used by Gated Communities in Enhancing Residential Security: a Case Study of Kitengela Township in Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

Gated communities have emerged to be the preferred residential choice for many home buyers both globally and locally. These communities provide safety, privacy, and prestige to the residents due to their enhanced security and logistical management systems. The prevailing global economic circumstances coupled with changing career dynamics such as economic restructuring, international terrorism, crime, and immigration have been central in identifying residential areas for most people. This study focused on determining the strategies used by gated communities to enhance residential security in Kitengela Township. The specific objectives of the study were; to establish the reasons why people prefer to reside in gated communities within Kitengela Township, to determine how the security control features used by the gated communities help in enhancing residential security within Kitengela Township, to establish how the use of private security guards helps in enhancing residential security within Kitengela Township, and to identify some of the key challenges faced by gated communities in their efforts to enhance residential security within Kitengela Township. The study adopted the defensible space theory. The research applied a multistage sampling procedure and proportionate stratified random sampling technique to select four gated communities in Kitengela Township and a sample size of 97 consisting of 95 residents, 1 Police Commander of Kitengela Police station and 1 area chief. The research used an interview guide and a questionnaire to collect data from the respondents with the help of two research assistants. Quantitative analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 and excel softwares while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Quantitative results were presented by the use of charts, graphs and tables in percentages, mean and standard deviation while qualitative presented in report form. The study finding revealed that the strategies used by the gated community to enhance residents’ security within Kitengela Township have significantly improved the level of security in the area. It recommends gated community leaders to follow up with the security officers and the hired guarding company to ensure the discussed strategies to improve the security of the residents are implemented in time.