Kenya joins US and UK to put citizens on the terrorism frontline
A new toll-free hotline and anonymous reporting portal make ordinary Kenyans the first line of defence against al-Shabaab and violent extremism.
By Grace Wanja
Kenya, the United States and the United Kingdom launched a joint counter-terrorism hotline and online reporting portal in Nairobi on Friday, giving ordinary citizens a direct, anonymous channel to alert security agencies to suspected terrorist activity, radicalisation, recruitment and financing.
The toll-free number — 0800 900 900 — will go live on 15 October 2026 alongside an anonymous online portal and a case-management system for receiving, assessing and prioritising reports. Developed with US and UK support, the system will be fully owned and operated by Kenya’s Counter Terrorism Bureau. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who presided over the launch at Pullman Hotel in Upper Hill, Nairobi, was flanked by US Deputy Ambassador Carla Benini, UK Deputy High Commissioner Dr Ed Barnett, and Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa Commander Major General Shane P. Morgan.
Mudavadi warned that the threat was evolving well beyond Somalia’s borders. “As Kenya’s digital infrastructure continues to expand, so do cyber-terrorism threats, including increased and disruptive ransom-seeking attacks,” he said. He added that six of the ten countries most affected by terrorism were in sub-Saharan Africa, and urged Kenyans to report extremist activities observed online. “Security begins with you as an individual,” he said.
The initiative marks a deliberate shift in Kenya’s counter-terrorism doctrine — from a model built around specialised agencies to one that places the community at its centre. In a region where al-Shabaab continues to exploit border gaps and recruit through digital channels, an informed and active citizenry may prove to be the most durable line of defence.
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