CCTV cameras in Kenya are widely used to protect homes, shops, schools, offices, warehouses, apartments and other commercial premises. However, a major security concern is emerging: what happens when surveillance cameras fail to record the very incident they were installed to capture?
A real Kenyan court proceeding in September 2026 highlighted this problem.
During an inquest concerning the death of Rex Masai, a police officer testified that parts of Nairobi’s police CCTV surveillance network were not functioning when the June 2024 shooting occurred.
According to published reports, investigators subsequently obtained relevant CCTV recordings from private business premises.
The incident raises an important question for every property owner:
Is your CCTV system actually recording usable evidence, or are you relying on cameras that might fail when you need them most?
For anyone planning CCTV installation in Kenya, the lesson is that security depends on more than camera quality.
Recording reliability, proper installation, maintenance, secure storage and responsible management of footage are equally important.
1. The Kenyan CCTV Incident That Exposed a Major Security Weakness
On 1 September 2026, Citizen Digital reported that an officer testifying during the Rex Masai inquest said National Police Service CCTV cameras in Nairobi’s Central Business District were not operational when Masai was shot on 20 June 2024.
The testimony also referred to a faulty fibre connection affecting the surveillance network.
Investigators reportedly faced difficulties obtaining footage from several surveillance points.
However, private CCTV recordings obtained during the investigation helped provide additional information about events surrounding the incident.
A separate report published on 25 March 2026 described how an Independent Policing Oversight Authority forensic investigator testified about the examination and authentication of video evidence.
These were developments reported in ongoing judicial proceedings, not final findings about responsibility for the shooting.
The important lesson for CCTV owners is straightforward:
An installed camera does not necessarily mean that an incident has been successfully recorded.
A camera can appear operational while the wider recording system suffers from network, storage, power or configuration problems.
This is why CCTV cameras in Kenya must be supported by proper system design and routine verification.
2. Seven Critical Lessons for CCTV Cameras in Kenya
Lesson 1: A CCTV Camera Is Not Useful If It Is Not Recording
One of the biggest mistakes property owners can make is assuming that a CCTV system is working simply because camera images appear on a monitor.
Live viewing and video recording are different functions.
A camera may display a live image while the recorder has stopped storing footage.
Possible causes include:
- A failed DVR or NVR hard drive
- Incorrect recording schedules
- Full or defective storage
- Network communication failures
- A malfunctioning recorder
- Incorrect camera configuration
- Loss of power to recording equipment
For this reason, every CCTV installation should undergo a complete recording test.
The installer should demonstrate that the customer can view historical footage and successfully export a recording.
Dotmobi recommendation: Do not accept a newly installed CCTV system until recording, playback and footage export have been tested.
Lesson 2: CCTV Maintenance Must Be Regular, Not Only After Failure
Many businesses install CCTV cameras and rarely check them again unless a serious incident occurs.
This creates the risk of discovering technical problems when footage is urgently required.
A practical CCTV maintenance programme should check:
- Camera image quality
- DVR and NVR recording status
- Hard drive health
- Camera network connectivity
- Power supplies and UPS equipment
- Night vision functionality
- Recording schedules
- System date and time
- Footage playback
- User permissions
Outdoor CCTV cameras may also require lens cleaning and inspection for water ingress, damaged cables and loose mounting brackets.
For business premises, we recommend a daily recording-status check, with more comprehensive technical inspections scheduled according to the system’s importance and operating conditions.
Regular CCTV maintenance can reduce the risk of preventable surveillance failures.
Lesson 3: Power and Network Reliability Are Essential
A CCTV camera may be functioning perfectly while the communication infrastructure supporting it has failed.
The September 2026 court testimony concerning Nairobi’s surveillance network highlighted the importance of communication links.
Commercial CCTV systems may depend on:
- Network switches
- Ethernet cables
- Fibre-optic links
- Wireless connections
- Internet routers
- Electrical power supplies
- Power over Ethernet equipment
Failure of a critical component can interrupt recording or remote monitoring.
Importantly, loss of internet access does not necessarily stop local recording. A correctly configured DVR or NVR may continue recording without an internet connection.
However, loss of a network link between an IP camera and its recorder may interrupt footage capture.
Businesses should consider UPS backup power, suitable network design, cable protection and system-status monitoring.
For larger installations, critical network components may require additional redundancy.
Lesson 4: CCTV Footage Must Be Preserved Properly
CCTV recordings may become important following theft, vandalism, workplace incidents, accidents or other security investigations.
However, recorded footage can be overwritten, corrupted, deleted or mishandled.
Under Kenya’s Evidence Act, Section 106B establishes conditions relating to the admissibility of electronic records, including provisions concerning certificates used to establish the reliability and production of computer-generated evidence.
Section 78A also addresses electronic and digital evidence, and courts assess admissibility in the circumstances of each case.
Therefore, property owners should not assume that simply copying a CCTV video to a flash disk automatically guarantees its acceptance in court.
A sensible evidence-preservation procedure includes:
- Identify the relevant footage immediately.
- Preserve the original recording where possible.
- Export a copy in an appropriate format.
- Record the camera, date, time and location.
- Document who retrieved and handled the recording.
- Restrict unauthorised alteration or deletion.
- Seek professional assistance where legal proceedings are anticipated.
Where appropriate, forensic specialists may also use file hashes to verify that electronic copies remain unchanged.
The goal is to establish a reliable record of how footage was obtained and preserved.
For more information on electronic evidence, review Section 106B of Kenya’s Evidence Act.
Lesson 5: Camera Positioning Determines Whether Evidence Is Useful
Installing a large number of cameras does not automatically provide effective surveillance.
A camera may record an incident yet fail to capture useful details because it was installed at the wrong angle or distance.
For example, a camera positioned too high above a doorway may record people entering a building without clearly capturing their faces.
Similarly, a camera facing directly into strong sunlight may produce images that are difficult to interpret.
A professional CCTV installation should consider:
- Main entrances and exits
- Vehicle gates
- Reception areas
- Cash handling points
- Storage facilities
- Loading bays
- Access corridors
- Parking areas
- Other identified security risks
Camera resolution, lens selection, lighting and recording settings should match the intended monitoring purpose.
For important entrances, a combination of overview cameras and more closely focused cameras may be appropriate.
Good CCTV design begins with the security risk, not the number of cameras being sold.
Lesson 6: CCTV Storage Must Be Planned Before Installation
A CCTV recording system normally has a limited amount of storage.
Once the configured capacity is reached, many systems overwrite older recordings.
This means footage from an incident may no longer be available if the matter is discovered too late.
The amount of footage stored depends on:
- Number of cameras
- Camera resolution
- Recording frame rate
- Video compression
- Bitrate
- Continuous or event-triggered recording
- Available storage capacity
For example, eight high-resolution cameras recording continuously will generally require more storage than a comparable system recording at lower resolution.
However, businesses should not automatically retain footage indefinitely.
Kenya’s Data Protection Act requires organisations to retain personal data only for as long as reasonably necessary for its intended purpose, subject to applicable exceptions.
There is no single universal CCTV retention period appropriate for every business.
The correct approach is to establish a justified retention policy and then size the storage system accordingly.
For more details, read our article:
CCTV Footage Retention in Kenya: 7 Essential Rules for Better Security.
Lesson 7: CCTV Security Must Respect Privacy
CCTV cameras in Kenya can improve physical security, but surveillance must also respect the privacy rights of individuals.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) explains that the processing of identifiable personal information must be lawful, fair, transparent and limited to appropriate purposes.
Businesses operating CCTV systems should consider:
- Displaying appropriate surveillance notices
- Explaining why surveillance is taking place
- Restricting access to authorised personnel
- Protecting recordings against unauthorised disclosure
- Avoiding unnecessary surveillance of private spaces
- Establishing appropriate retention periods
- Handling access requests lawfully
- Reviewing applicable data protection obligations
A business should not assume that recording footage for security purposes automatically permits unrestricted public sharing.
The ODPC’s guidance on recorded media reinforces the importance of respecting privacy when photographs and videos are published or shared.
Read the ODPC’s official data protection guidance.
For further technical safeguards, see our article on CCTV Cybersecurity in Kenya.
3. CCTV Cameras in Kenya: A Practical Business Example
Consider a hypothetical supermarket operating eight CCTV cameras.
The cameras cover the entrance, payment counters, stockroom and parking area.
Management can view live footage on a monitor and assumes the security system is functioning normally.
One evening, goods disappear from the stockroom.
When management attempts to retrieve the recordings, it discovers that the DVR hard drive failed several weeks earlier.
Although camera images had remained visible, historical recordings were unavailable.
The business is left without the video evidence it expected to have.
How could this situation have been prevented?
A simple daily recording-status check might have identified the failure earlier.
Regular playback testing, appropriate storage alerts and scheduled technical inspections could have reduced the risk further.
This example is illustrative, but it demonstrates an important principle:
CCTV reliability must be verified, not assumed.
4. CCTV Installation Checklist for Kenyan Businesses
Before commissioning a new CCTV installation, business owners should verify the following:
| Requirement | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Camera coverage | Important areas are visible |
| Image quality | Details are sufficiently clear |
| Night vision | Recordings remain useful after dark |
| Recording | DVR/NVR is saving footage |
| Playback | Historical videos can be retrieved |
| Storage | Capacity matches retention policy |
| Power backup | Critical equipment has suitable protection |
| Remote access | Authorised users can connect securely |
| Date and time | Recording timestamps are accurate |
| Evidence export | Footage can be copied and preserved |
| Maintenance | Inspection and support arrangements exist |
| Privacy | Appropriate access controls and notices are in place |
A professional installer should explain these functions and demonstrate their operation.
Customers should also receive basic training on how to retrieve recordings.
5. Why CCTV Maintenance Is Important for Homes, Schools and Businesses
The lessons from the reported Nairobi CCTV failures are relevant far beyond public surveillance systems.
They apply equally to private security installations.
CCTV for homes and apartments
Homeowners and property managers need reliable monitoring of gates, parking areas and access points.
Regular verification helps ensure that recordings are available when security incidents arise.
CCTV for shops and supermarkets
Retail businesses may use surveillance to review cash-handling incidents, stock discrepancies and unauthorised access.
Proper camera positioning and dependable recording are essential.
CCTV for schools and institutions
Schools may use appropriate surveillance to monitor entrances, corridors and other designated security areas.
Special consideration should be given to the privacy of children and restrictions on access to recordings.
CCTV for warehouses and factories
Industrial facilities often have multiple entry points, storage areas and loading bays.
Such environments may require larger recording systems, network planning and periodic technical maintenance.
CCTV for hotels, bars and restaurants
Hospitality businesses may use CCTV for entrance monitoring, payment-area security and incident investigations.
Camera placement should avoid unnecessarily intrusive surveillance of customers, guests and employees.
6. How Dotmobi Helps Businesses Improve CCTV Reliability
At Dotmobi LLP, we provide CCTV security solutions for homes, businesses and institutions in Kenya.
Our CCTV offerings can support:
- CCTV system design and camera selection
- Installation of surveillance cameras
- DVR and NVR configuration
- Remote viewing setup
- Recording and playback configuration
- Network and power infrastructure assessment
- Storage planning
- Technical troubleshooting and maintenance
- Upgrading existing CCTV systems
The appropriate scope depends on the site assessment and agreed equipment specification.
Whether you operate a single shop or a larger commercial facility, your CCTV system should be designed around actual security risks.
Our objective is to help customers establish reliable surveillance arrangements rather than simply install cameras.
Explore Dotmobi CCTV Security Solutions.
You can also read about a previous Dotmobi CCTV installation at Kipepeo Safe Space, which demonstrates how properly planned surveillance can support resource protection and accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions About CCTV Cameras in Kenya
1. How do I know whether my CCTV camera is recording?
Open the DVR or NVR playback menu and check whether recent recordings are available. You should also confirm the recorder’s storage status and test playback from each important camera.
A live image alone does not confirm successful recording.
2. Can CCTV cameras work without internet?
Yes. Many CCTV systems can record locally without internet access when the cameras and recorder remain connected and powered.
Internet connectivity is commonly required for remote viewing and certain cloud services.
3. How often should CCTV cameras be serviced?
The appropriate frequency depends on the installation and its importance.
Basic recording-status checks should be performed regularly, while more comprehensive inspections can be scheduled according to operational risk, environmental conditions and equipment requirements.
4. Can CCTV footage be used as evidence in Kenyan courts?
Yes, CCTV recordings can be used as electronic evidence, subject to applicable legal requirements.
The admissibility and evidential weight of a particular recording depend on the circumstances, including its authenticity, reliability and how it was obtained and presented.
5. How long should CCTV footage be kept in Kenya?
There is no single universal retention period applicable to every CCTV installation.
The organisation should establish an appropriate period based on its security needs, legal obligations and Kenya’s data protection requirements.
6. What happens if a CCTV hard drive fails?
A failed recording drive may prevent new footage from being saved and can make existing recordings inaccessible.
The recorder should be inspected promptly, and attempts to recover important evidence should be handled carefully.
7. Can Dotmobi inspect an existing CCTV installation?
Customers can contact Dotmobi to request an assessment of an existing CCTV installation, including recording, storage, connectivity and possible maintenance requirements.
Conclusion: The Best CCTV System Is One That Works When Needed
The September 2026 testimony concerning Nairobi’s surveillance cameras provides a valuable reminder to every property owner and security manager.
CCTV cameras in Kenya should not be evaluated by appearance or camera count alone.
A reliable system requires:
- Proper camera positioning
- Dependable recording
- Sufficient storage
- Stable power and network infrastructure
- Secure footage handling
- Regular maintenance
- Appropriate privacy safeguards
The most expensive CCTV system can become ineffective if recordings are unavailable during a critical investigation.
A more modest but properly designed and maintained installation may provide greater practical value.
Do not wait for a security incident to discover that your CCTV system stopped recording.
Request CCTV Installation or Maintenance from Dotmobi
Is your existing CCTV system recording correctly?
Do you need new cameras, DVR/NVR installation, remote monitoring or a complete security assessment?
Contact Dotmobi LLP for professional CCTV solutions in Kenya.
Telephone: +254 722 761 322
Email: info@dotmobi.co.ke
Website: https://dotmobi.co.ke/
Dotmobi LLP — Reliable Security. Smarter Monitoring.
Research and Information Sources
- Citizen Digital, 1 September 2026: Police CCTV cameras were offline during Rex Masai shooting, inquest told.
- The Eastleigh Voice, 1 September 2026: Court testimony concerning CCTV camera failures.
- Evidence Act, Section 106B — Admissibility of Electronic Records.
- Office of the Data Protection Commissioner — Official Guidelines.
- Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019.