Away from the notion that kidnappings are only executed by criminals, a new report by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) has thrown a spanner in the works, and you may just need to be extra-careful.

While 89 per cent of kidnappers were strangers to the victims, the report has established that close people to targeted persons are deeply involved.

Of those interviewed in the report that covered 20 counties, 79.9pc were kidnapped by their acquaintances, 72pc by organised criminal and street gangs, 70 pc by their partners, 61pc by family members and 39pc by security agents.

"Kidnappers include family members (who engineer the process of kidnapping) romantic partners, security agents and strangers. They are mostly economically not well -to -do youthful Kenyan males," reads the report.

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Activists protesting against kidnapping. Photo/Capital FM