The city's high crime rate, which has gotten steadily worse, is the main problem in Nairobi, and it is a big one. High-powered weapons have flooded Kenya from civil wars in the neighboring countries of Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi. Now, you're liable to find four guys armed with AK-47s at your door. The dynamics have changed. Immediately after Friday's explosion, looters raced into the burned-out embassy.
Residents go to extraordinary lengths to protect themselves.
Almost every foreigner has a guard for the day and another for overnight. They have elaborate security systems that alert private officers to rush over when there is trouble, although some people complain they don't always come. Almost everyone has dogs. Some have lockable iron grill doors inside their homes to separate their bedrooms from the rest of the house. If an intruder breaks in, they can isolate themselves in their bedrooms.