Kenya has launched a dedicated counter-terrorism hotline, 0800 900 900, and an online reporting portal to enable citizens to share information that could help prevent terrorism and violent extremism.
Representing President William Samoei Ruto at the inauguration in Nairobi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi said the initiative would strengthen cooperation between citizens and security agencies while improving the flow of timely information needed to identify and respond to emerging threats.
“Keeping Kenya safe is a responsibility we all share,” Mudavadi said, underscoring the role of citizens in preventing terrorism and violent extremism.
The hotline is dedicated specifically to counter-terrorism reporting and is not intended for routine police reports or personal complaints. The accompanying online portal provides an additional channel for submitting relevant information to the appropriate authorities.
The launch came shortly after the Fifth Nairobi Caucus on Protecting Critical Infrastructure Systems and Public Spaces from Terrorism, convened by Kenya’s National Counter Terrorism Centre and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism in Nairobi on September 7–8.
The forum brought together about 200 participants from 24 Member States, alongside regional organisations, UN entities and international partners, to examine evolving terrorist threats and strengthen prevention, preparedness, resilience and coordinated response.
The Nairobi Caucus highlighted the importance of early warning and timely information-sharing in preventing threats before they escalate. Kenya’s new reporting mechanism provides a direct channel through which information from the public can reach institutions responsible for counter-terrorism.
With Kenya preparing for the 2027 General Election, Mudavadi called for vigilance around large public gatherings and open spaces, noting the evolving security environment.
“As Kenya’s digital infrastructure continues to expand, so do cyber terrorism threats,” he said, highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
Mudavadi also stressed the importance of monitoring organised criminal activity, where criminal networks could create vulnerabilities to violent extremism or terrorism.
“The security, safety, and peace of our nation remain non-negotiable priorities,” he said.
The initiative marks another step in Kenya’s security cooperation with the United Kingdom and the United States. The UK supported the technical development of the hotline, online reporting portal and associated systems, while the US contributed to strategic communications and public awareness.
The British Government emphasised that the capability is owned and operated by Kenyan professionals and embedded within Kenyan institutions, placing national ownership at the centre while drawing on international technical support.
US Deputy Ambassador Carla Benini said the facility provides a toll-free, anonymous and secure channel for reporting terrorism-related concerns.
She said the initiative reflects continued cooperation among Kenya, the UK and the US on information-sharing and coordinated responses to security threats in Kenya and the wider East African region.
Major General Shane Morgan, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa, highlighted the importance of public reporting in strengthening counter-terrorism efforts.
“If you see something, you say something, whether it is a concern for citizens or something that is off,” Morgan said, describing the initiative as a grassroots mechanism linking information from the public with national, regional and international counter-terrorism efforts.
He said public vigilance and timely reporting could complement the work of security agencies by enabling authorities to receive information that may help identify potential threats.
The initiative also strengthens Kenya’s broader early-warning and prevention framework by linking domestic reporting mechanisms with regional and international security cooperation.
Mudavadi said the approach would place citizens closer to the country’s counter-terrorism framework and reinforce cooperation between the public, national institutions and international partners.
“Security begins with all of us,” Mudavadi said. “When citizens and security agencies work together, we build a safer, more peaceful Kenya where our young people, families and businesses can thrive.”
by Hassan Adan Ali (PCO)
