The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a toll-free hotline and online platform where Kenyans can anonymously report suspected terrorist activities.
The new system was launched on Friday, September 18, at the Pullman Hotel in Upperhill, Nairobi, during an event attended by senior government officials, police officers, international partners, civil society groups and representatives from the private sector.
The hotline, 0800 900 900, will allow members of the public to share information with the DCI’s Counter Terrorism Bureau (CTB) without revealing their identity.
The platform also includes an online reporting portal and a case management system that will be used to receive, assess and prioritise information submitted by the public.
Speaking during the launch, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who represented President William Ruto, said the system would give ordinary Kenyans a bigger role in counter-terrorism efforts.
Mudavadi said members of the public are often in the best position to notice suspicious activities within their communities and can help security agencies act before an attack happens.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin said the new platform would improve cooperation between security agencies and the public.
He said information provided early could help investigators identify threats before they turn into attacks, including information that may appear unimportant on its own.
“Timely information can make the difference between preventing an incident and responding to one after it has occurred,” Amin said.
Director of Counter Terrorism Bureau Saidi Kiprotich advised Kenyans to use the system in a responsible manner without giving false information and not using the system to target anyone based on his/her identity.
On the other hand, he cautioned members of the public against engaging individuals suspected to be participating in acts of terror, advising them to communicate the information to relevant authorities.
The system was developed with the help of the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States. Nonetheless, DCI asserted that the system will be managed by the Counter Terrorism Bureau as a Kenyan security system.
The US Embassy’s Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Carla Benini said the platform gives Kenyans a direct way to help security agencies prevent attacks.
UK Deputy High Commissioner Ed Barnett also said the UK was supporting the Kenyan-owned system as part of its partnership with Kenya and the United States.
The launch comes as security agencies continue to deal with changing forms of terrorism, including the use of technology, social media and networks that operate across different countries.
The DCI has urged Kenyans to use the hotline, 0800 900 900, and the online portal to share information that could help protect lives and communities.
