National

State launches emergency Amber alerts to trace missing children

Interior PS Raymond Omollo speaking at the launch of the Kenya Emergency Child Alert on March 18,2024. (X/Raymond Omollo)

By Amina Wako | Tuesday, March 19, 2024

This initiative marks a crucial technological innovation for Kenya, making it the 34th country globally and the third in Africa to adopt Meta's Amber Alerts programme

Kenya has launched its first Emergency Child Alert (KECA) programme as a step towards enhancing child protection and combating human trafficking.

The initiative, also known as the Amber Alerts, aims to swiftly notify the public about missing children, utilising the extensive reach of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

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Presided over by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, the launch ceremony emphasised the collaborative effort between the Kenyan government, Meta, and the Missing Child organization.

Interior PS Omollo highlighted the effectiveness of the program, stating, "We have officially launched the Kenya Emergency Child Alert program that leverages the extensive reach of Facebook and Instagram to promptly notify users about abducted children, aiding in their recovery."

This initiative marks a crucial technological innovation for Kenya, making it the 34th country globally and the third in Africa to adopt Meta's Amber Alerts programme, following South Africa and Nigeria.

Omollo emphasised the transformative power of technology in search and rescue efforts, particularly in locating missing individuals swiftly and efficiently.

Maryanne Munyendo, CEO of the Missing Child Foundation, echoed Omollo's sentiments, citing the success stories of Meta's Amber Alerts in countries like the United States.

"Since Meta launched Amber Alerts in 2015, they have assisted in hundreds of successful child endangerment cases in the United States and around the world," she said.

The Amber Alerts will provide crucial details about missing children, including photos, descriptions, abduction locations, and any other available information. Importantly, these alerts will be rare and specific to designated search areas, promptly informing users in the vicinity about ongoing searches for missing children.

The Missing Child Kenya Foundation highlighted the collaborative nature of the programme, emphasising the importance of community involvement in spreading awareness and increasing the chances of finding missing children, particularly in the critical first few hours.

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