The government is preparing to roll out a new digital application that will allow citizens to report crimes directly from their phones , a move aimed at modernising the National Police Service.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo revealed that the app will play a central role in handling traffic-related offences and will be integrated into a wider digital case reporting system.
“We are 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.
According to Omollo, the innovation is designed to curb corruption among rogue traffic officers and motorists who often collude to manipulate traffic records and Occurrence Books (OBs).
To strengthen accountability further, the government is expanding its network of CCTV cameras across major highways and urban centres to ensure real-time monitoring of unlawful activity.
“We recognise CCTVs as a vital tool in public security and are expanding coverage while installing more streetlights in both urban and rural areas,” he added.
While Omollo did not specify when the app will be available to the public, he confirmed that plans for a Digital Occurrence Book (OB) are already underway.
“This administration has made significant progress in police modernisation and technology adoption. Most stations still rely on manual OBs, but we are now moving towards a digital version to promote accountability,” the PS said.
It remains unclear how the new platform will differ from the NCRC Kenya app, launched last year by the National Crime Research Centre. That app allows users to report incidents in real time and helps authorities collect and analyse crime data from across the country.
These developments are part of ongoing efforts to rebuild public trust and improve the relationship between citizens and law enforcement. Omollo cited recent findings from the Jukwaa La Usalama initiative, which indicate that about seven in ten Kenyans are now satisfied with the police service a marked improvement over previous years.
“The relationship between the police and the public has historically been strained. However, the 2010 Constitution and recent reforms have helped drive positive change. While there’s still more to be done, public trust in the police is clearly improving,” Omollo said.
The digitisation of the OB system began in 2017 and was piloted at Kasarani Police Station in Nairobi in November 2019.
The Ministry of Interior announced in January 2024 that starting this year , Kenyans would no longer need to visit police stations for report certain incidents, as the digital OB and traffic fines processing systems roll out.