NAIROBI
Kenyans may now take an active role in curbing crime in the country through the use of technology after the government launched a portal, which acts as a platform where one can upload a photo or a video that can assist security agencies curb an imminent security threat.
The new security agency website dubbed the Usalama Watch, will act as a converter belt for information from the public to security forces.
Launching the portal on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary in charge of Security Joseph Ole Lenku told journalists that the initiative was part of the government's 100-day Rapid Result Initiative for security in the country.
“We want to go through a Rapid Result Initiative that the ministry in consultation with other stakeholders has developed to make sure we address arising security issues,” he said.
Lenku said the security agencies have decided to adopt ICT in a bid to improve security services to the public.
“It is the beginning of a process where we are saying that we are going to modernize our security organs to align themselves with the new technology,” said Lenku.
Already, an inter-security agency team has been formed to help in monitoring the website and to ascertain information received.
“To ascertain the truth, there is a team that will ensure all information is acted on,” he said.
This comes as a wider plan for the government to control the security situation in the country amidst an outcry over escalating crime rates, by intergrating the use of technology.
A recent report released by Kenya-based Portland Communications and Tweetminster published findings indicating that social media is fast becoming an important source of information.
More than 80 percent of those polled said they mainly used it for communicating with friends, 68 percent said they use it to monitor news and 22 percent to search for jobs, the companies said.
The survey ranked Kenya as the second most active country in Africa after South Africa, with over 2,476,800 citizens using Twitter alone to pass information.
The researchers noted how few African governments, business and political leaders were joining Africa’s burgeoning Twittersphere.
“With some notable exceptions, we found that governments, businesses and political leaders were largely absent from the debates playing out on Twitter across the continent,” they said. “As Twitter lifts off in Africa, governments, businesses and development agencies can really no longer afford to stay out of a new space where dialogue will increasingly be taking place.”
The website allows Kenyans from all walks of life to report crime or security threats within their community.
It allows one to upload photos and videos up to a capacity of 1GB at a time.
The information provided by the citizens remains confidential and their identity is protected, however the website has provision for one to provide their email address and phone number in cases that need immediate police intervention.
The Interior Secretary said police recruits will undergo ICT training in a bid to handle modern international security approaches, techniques and equipment.
“We have trained close to a 100 officers on this…police training schools will now adopt training in the evolving technology,” he said.
Reporting by Shem Oluchiri
Englishnews@aa.com.tr
