Mudavadi Unveils New Counter-Terrorism Hotline
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 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, 0800 900 900, 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 7–8 September. 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 gives that principle a practical dimension by creating 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, while pointing to an evolving security environment.
“As Kenya’s digital infrastructure continues to expand, so do cyber terrorism threats,” he said, highlighting the need for continued vigilance as the security environment continues to evolve.
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. The arrangement places 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,” Morgan said, describing the initiative as a grassroots mechanism linking information from the public with national, regional and international counter-terrorism efforts.
Beyond its immediate security function, the initiative has a wider preventive-diplomacy and regional stability dimension. Stronger early-warning and reporting capacity can reinforce Kenya’s cooperation with regional and international partners in addressing transnational security threats while strengthening institutional resilience.
The hotline consequently links Kenya’s domestic prevention efforts with wider regional and international security cooperation while retaining national ownership of the response. It also places citizens closer to the country’s counter-terrorism framework, reinforcing the link between public vigilance, national institutions and international cooperation.
“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.”