Surveillance Isn’t Like the Movies: Busting the Myths About Private Investigations in Kenya
If you’ve watched Hollywood blockbusters like Mission: Impossible or Sherlock Holmes, you’re probably convinced that private investigators spend their days in high-speed car chases, hacking CCTV systems from laptops, or hanging upside down from ceilings. But here’s the truth: surveillance isn’t like the movies. Especially not in Kenya.
This blog post busts common myths and brings you into the real, sometimes gritty world of private investigation. Whether you’re hiring a PI or considering becoming one, prepare for a reality check.
Myth #1: PIs Use Fancy Gadgets and High-Tech Gear
Hollywood version: Every investigator has hidden cameras in pens, drones that follow suspects, and glasses that record conversations.
Real life in Kenya: Most private investigators rely on simple but effective tools like smartphones, discreet cameras, and long hours of patient observation. Technology helps yes, but the real skill lies in blending in and staying unnoticed, not flashy gadgets.
Myth #2: Surveillance Means Fast Cars and Action
Hollywood version: PIs tail suspects in high-speed chases, switch cars mid-pursuit, and leap across traffic.
Real life in Kenya: Surveillance often means sitting in a parked car for hours, sometimes in the heat, just waiting. You might follow a subject on foot through Nairobi’s Central Business District or quietly observe someone at a supermarket in Rongai. It’s slow, deliberate, and demands patience, not horsepower.
Myth #3: PIs Always Get the Big Reveal
Hollywood version: At the end, the PI always uncovers shocking secrets, infidelity, crime, or a massive corporate conspiracy.
Real life in Kenya: Sometimes, there’s nothing dramatic. A cheating partner turns out to be faithful. An ’employee stealing company property’ might just be misunderstood. The truth isn’t always explosive, but it’s always valuable.
Myth #4: It’s All Instinct and Gut Feeling
Hollywood version: The investigator just knows something’s off, follows a hunch, and cracks the case.
Real life in Kenya: Surveillance requires planning, coordination, legal awareness, and note-taking. Investigators often cross-check phone numbers, monitor locations over time, and compare information with public records. Gut instinct helps, but facts close the case.
Myth #5: One PI Can Do Everything Alone
Hollywood version: A lone wolf handles tailing, breaking into places, chasing suspects, and fighting off enemies.
Real life in Kenya: Professional firms like LY Private Investigators work as teams. Surveillance requires shifts to avoid burnout, especially in long-term cases. Coordination is key and legal compliance even more so.
What Surveillance Really Looks Like in Kenya
Here’s a snapshot of a typical case:
- Client suspects a cheating spouse.
- We plan discreet surveillance choosing locations where the subject frequently visits.
- We avoid detection by blending into the environment. A PI might pretend to be a delivery rider, shopper, or customer.
- Evidence is gathered slowly, photos, timestamps, notes etc. Not dramatic showdowns.
Internal link: Read more on how LY Private Investigators conduct domestic surveillance
Surveillance Isn’t Like the Movies. It’s Smarter.
Hollywood focuses on drama. Real surveillance focuses on details. It’s about staying invisible, following the law, and producing credible evidence.
Surveillance in Kenya comes with unique challenges like traffic, informal transport systems, tight-knit communities, but also advantages like local knowledge and street smarts.
External link: Kenya Private Security Regulation Act (PSRA)
The Truth Behind the Lens
So next time you think about hiring a PI or imagining what they do, remember this: surveillance isn’t like the movies. It’s not all drama and gadgets. It’s quiet, professional, and deeply strategic. At LY Private Investigators, we value truth, privacy, and ethical surveillance.