Toyota remains the most targeted vehicle brand in Kenya in 2024, according to the latest report by the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI). The report, covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2024, highlights a concerning trend in vehicle theft, with Toyota accounting for 54.91% of stolen vehicles.
Other highly targeted vehicle makes include Isuzu (12.88%), Mazda (7.06%), Nissan (5.83%), and Mitsubishi (3.99%). Among vehicle body types, station wagons were the most at risk, making up 67.8% of stolen vehicles. Lorries followed at 11.46%, while saloons (6.81%) and pick-ups (3.72%) were also affected.
A notable pattern emerged in vehicle registration numbers, with those bearing number plates starting with ‘KD’ being the most targeted, accounting for 50.15% of stolen cars. ‘KC’ plates followed at 35.17%, while ‘KA’ registered vehicles accounted for only 1.83% of reported cases.
Vehicle value also played a role in theft trends. Insured vehicles valued at less than Ksh.1 million comprised 32.52% of stolen cars. Those priced between Ksh.1 million and Ksh.2 million accounted for 26.07%, while vehicles valued above Ksh.3 million made up 27.3%. The most expensive vehicle stolen in 2024 was a Mitsubishi lorry valued at Ksh.12.2 million.
Regarding theft locations and methods, the report indicated that 31.91% of stolen vehicles were taken from parking areas, while hijackings accounted for 7.24%. However, the highest proportion of theft cases involved vehicle parts, which made up 54.28% of incidents.
Despite the high incidence of vehicle theft, the recovery rate remains low, with only 15.32% of stolen vehicles successfully recovered. However, this marks a slight improvement from the 11.72% recovery rate recorded in 2023.
Overall, the total number of stolen vehicles in 2024 stood at 327, reflecting a 28% decline from the 419 cases reported in 2023. While this decline is a positive sign, vehicle owners are still urged to enhance their security measures to reduce the risk of theft.
