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How Nakuru security agencies plan to use new digital platform to combat potential threats

Nakuru County Commissioner Dr Loyford Kibara speaks during election preparedness stakeholder meeting in Nakuru.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Emerging security threats and potential sources of conflict will now be dealt through a digital platform Usalama 107 which will provide the security agencies with early warning to allow response as the country gears towards the 2027 General Election.

The platform allows members of the public to call or send an SMS to 107 to report threats, with the information channeled to security agencies for action. Reports can also be made through the Usalama 107 website, where users can access a template for submitting early warning information.

Midrift Human Rights Network Executive Director Joseph Omondi says the platform is designed to connect communities with authorities and ensure emerging threats are addressed before they escalate.

“Today if you have a phone and you have a line; you can call 107 and report. You can also send an SMS to 107,” Mr Omondi says.

Mid-Rift Hurinet Executive Director Joseph Omondi  speaks peaks during election preparedness stakeholder meeting in Nakuru on 06/10/2026

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

He says the initiative is part of a programme supported by the UK government together with the Electoral Law and Governance Institution for Africa to strengthen peace actors and government institutions ahead of the elections.

Nakuru County Commissioner Dr Loyford Kibara says the county has established command centres to ensure reports received through Usalama 107 are quickly acted upon.

“When those messages are received, they are quickly sent to security officers for action. So there is no lapse between the reporting and the response,” Dr Kibara says.

He added that one command centre is based at the Regional Commissioner’s office, while another has been supported by Mid-Rift Hurinet at Jogo House.

Dr Kibara says information provided through the platform will be treated confidentially to protect those reporting threats.

“Our appeal is for our members of the public to use it. We want to put a commitment and an assurance that when the message is sent, action will be taken,” he says.

The usalama 107 takes centre stage in Nakuru’s 2027 election peace plans 

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

The platform comes as Nakuru steps up preparations for the 2027 elections amid concerns over political polarisation, misinformation, disinformation and emerging threats in digital spaces, including deepfakes.

Dr Kibara says the county’s multi-sectoral peace and security committee, which meets quarterly, is working to identify potential hotspots and ensure early warnings are acted upon.

The committee brings together security agencies, the media, religious organisations, civil society groups, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

“We need to get all the teams to identify all the hotspots and share their warnings so that these warnings are acted on,” Dr Kibara says.