New US, UK counter-terrorism plan puts Kenyans at centre of early-warning system

By  Steve Otieno

Reporter

Nation Media Group

You can now play a more active role in supporting the government in the fight against terrorism by reporting suspicious activities through a newly launched Counter Terrorism Hotline.

The toll-free number and an accompanying online reporting portal will give Kenyans a direct channel to alert specialised security agencies about suspected terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation, recruitment, financing and other suspicious activities.

While developed with the support of the United Kingdom and the United States, the hotline and online portal, which will officially go live on October 15, 2026, will be fully owned, managed and operated by Kenya’s Counter Terrorism Bureau (formerly Anti-Terror Police Unit).

The initiative will strengthen Kenya's role in regional counter-terrorism efforts by demonstrating how information from ordinary citizens can be incorporated into national early-warning and prevention systems.

This is particularly important in the Horn of Africa, where terrorist groups operate across borders and exploit security gaps between countries. By strengthening community reporting at home, Kenya could generate intelligence that supports not only domestic investigations but also wider regional efforts to detect emerging threats.

Speaking during the launch of the hotline and online portal, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the initiative would strengthen a community-based approach to gathering credible counter-terrorism intelligence and improve cooperation between citizens and security agencies.

“The counter-terrorism hotline is one such crucial national measure for enhancing public safety and national security,” PCS Mudavadi said.

He described the launch as a significant milestone in Kenya's longstanding security partnerships with the United Kingdom and the United States.

“The establishment of a dedicated hotline to report radicalisation, extremism and terrorism is a recognised global practice. It can strengthen our counter-terrorism efforts,” he said.

Mr Mudavadi urged Kenyans to make full and responsible use of the hotline, stressing that it was specifically intended for counter-terrorism reports and should not be used for ordinary police complaints.

He also called for vigilance over suspected extremist activities online, noting that the expansion of Kenya's digital infrastructure had created new avenues for cyber-related threats, including ransom-seeking attacks.

Kenya, too, he said, is heading to a general election, and large crowds will be expected, exposing Kenyans to the possibility of terror attacks. He urged Kenyans and security agencies to increase their vigilance and surveillance.

The initiative comes amid a complex security environment across Africa. Terrorist groups continue to exploit weak institutions, regional conflicts, porous borders and digital platforms for recruitment and propaganda.

For Kenya, the new system will strengthen its position as a regional hub for counter-terrorism cooperation. The country already hosts regional security meetings and works with neighbouring states and international partners on intelligence, investigations and prevention, and this model, if successful, could provide a model for other countries in the Horn of Africa and sub-Saharan Africa seeking to strengthen community-led prevention.

Dr Ed Barnett, UK Deputy High Commissioner in Kenya, said the hotline demonstrated what could be achieved when international partners work together towards a common security objective.

“We are here not simply to launch this project but to demonstrate what can be achieved when common partners work together to achieve a common goal to keep communities safe from the threat of terrorism,” Dr Barnett said.

He said the UK had supported the technical development of the online portal and systems, but emphasised that the platform would be operated by Kenyan professionals and embedded within Kenyan institutions.

Dr Barnett said information received through the system would strengthen information flows, support investigations and enable more timely interventions.

Representing the US military and US Africa Command leadership, Major General Sharpe Morgan, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, said citizens had an important role in identifying potential threats.

“If you see something, you say something, whether it is a concern for citizens or something that is off,” Gen Morgan said.

He said the value of the system would sometimes be measured by attacks that never happened because they had been prevented.

US Embassy Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Carla Benini said the hotline would provide an important bridge between communities and security agencies.

She described it as a toll-free and anonymous channel through which citizens could communicate information to relevant authorities.

“Community-led prevention strategies are one of the most effective tools for preventing violent extremism,” Ms Benini said.

She said the initiative demonstrated collaboration between Kenya's Counter Terrorism Bureau, the UK High Commission and the US Embassy to strengthen security in Kenya and the wider East African region.

Rosemary Sipatan Kiraru, Director of Forensic Services at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, represented DCI Director Mohamed Amin at the launch.

She said counter-terrorism required a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in which every citizen and institution had a role.

The hotline, she said, would allow the public to report suspected terrorism activities, financing, recruitment, radicalisation, suspicious movements and other security concerns.

“Timely reporting is a crucial link in the prevention and mitigation of terrorism activities and will help identify a wider frame to support appropriate action,” Ms Kiraru said.

She assured the public that reports would be handled securely and professionally, while cautioning that not every report would necessarily constitute a terrorist threat.

The DCI official said the hotline would enable investigators to hear directly from communities and strengthen the country's intelligence-led approach to counter-terrorism.

The speakers also acknowledged that the hotline alone cannot prevent terrorism. Its effectiveness will depend on public trust, the ability of security agencies to assess information and the speed with which the information will be acted on.

PCS Mudavadi said the initiative should be viewed as more than the launch of another government telephone number.

He recalled the January 2019 DusitD2 terrorist attack in Nairobi, saying his son was inside the complex during the assault and “was among the lucky ones to make it home”.

“This is real; it is not fiction. It is real. So let us take it very seriously. Security begins with you as an individual,” he said.

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