The government will soon introduce a new mobile app for reporting crimes as part of the broad modernisation changes of the force under President William Ruto.
According to Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, the new mobile app will be relied upon especially in cases of traffic offences and will form part of the new digital case reporting system.
“We are also soon introducing a mobile app that allows citizens to report incidents, particularly road-related cases, directly online,” PS Omollo said during an interview on Ramogi FM on Tuesday night.
PS Omollo explained that the app seeks to tame rogue traffic officers and motorists who often collude to manipulate traffic books and OB records.
To further enhance the system's tamper-proof nature, the government is in the process of expanding CCTV coverage across major highways and roads to capture any unlawful activity in real time.
“We recognise CCTVs as an important tool in public security and are expanding the use of CCTV and installing more streetlights in both urban and rural areas,” PS Omollo stated.
While the PS did not offer a timeline for when Kenyans can expect the app, he said the government has accelerated plans for a Digital Occurrence Book.
“This administration has made significant strides in police modernisation and the adoption of technology. Most stations now use Occurrence Books (OB), but we are transitioning to a Digital OB system to enhance transparency and reduce case manipulation,” he said.
The PS did not explain whether the new app will have any differences from the NCRC Kenya app launched by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) last year.
According to the NCRC, the app collects, collates, reports, and utilises data, enabling the police force's research division to report crime incidents in specific areas in real time.
All this is part of the reforms expected to increase trust and transparency with the police. According to the PS, surveys conducted from the Jukwaa La Usalama initiative in counties show that 7 out of 10 Kenyans are generally satisfied with police officers.
“The relationship between the police and citizens has historically been strained. However, the 2010 Constitution has helped drive positive change. While challenges remain, recent surveys, particularly through the Jukwaa la Usalama forums led by CS Interior, Murkomen, show that around 7 out of 10 Kenyans are generally satisfied with police officers, which is a sign of improving public trust. There is still work to be done,” he asserted.
If successful, the new app will be the second time the National Police Service has introduced a digital reporting system.
In 2013, the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) launched a mobile phone application to enable members of the public to report offences.
The system worked through a member of the public sending a text message (SMS) or call to the 999999 line. The project, however, did not take off.
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