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Kenya launches mobile app to fight crime

Xinhua, January 24, 2017 Adjust font size:

Kenya has launched a mobile phone application system to boost the fight against crime, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Attorney General Githu Muigai told a media briefing in Nairobi that the app will enable the public to report and document crimes as they happen.

"The mobile phone crime reporting system will boost the fight against crime by leveraging on the large number of Kenyans with smart phones," Muigai said.

The mobile app will work on all smart phones with android, IOS and windows operating systems.

Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya shows that there are 38.5 million mobile phone subscriptions in Kenya, out of which an estimated 44 percent are smart phones.

The data collected by the mobile app will be analyzed and verified by the National Crime Research Center (NCRC), which will then pass on the information to security agencies in real time.

Muigai said that efforts to boost national security were hampered as citizens are often unwilling to report crime through traditional channels.

"In fact up to 70 percent of all crimes go unreported as the public fears reporting to the police due to safety concerns," he added.

Muigai said that the mobile technology ensures that information can be reported anonymously and this will boost reporting of crimes.

"The NCRC will use the information to map out crime hotspots in the country. The information gathered will help members of the public to remain vigilant towards crime," he added. Endit