Kenya, UK reaffirm partnership by launching DCI crime reporting hotlines

UK Minister for Africa James Duddridge. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Kenya and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their partnership in the realms of security and education after the two countries joined hands in launching crime reporting hotlines on Thursday.

The United Kingdom minister for Africa, James Duddridge, was in Nairobi for a one-day visit where he launched a UK-supported private ‘crime stoppers’ hotline for reporting crime at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) along Kiambu road.

The project has been a result of a partnership between the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

The ‘crime stoppers’ hotline will be a free-to-call, confidential crime reporting hotline.

The United Kingdom National Crime Agency will mentor and train the DCI officers through the hotline’s launch and establishment.

According to a statement released to the newsroom by the British High Commission, the UK minister visited Westland’s Primary School with Sports CS Amina Mohammed ahead of UK and Kenya co-chairing of the global partnership for education in 2021.

The two countries want to raise Sh550 billion, which will see children across the world get educated.

Duddridge gave a speech at to mark Human Rights Day at the University of Nairobi, where he stated UK’s commitment to human rights and open societies.

The minister also held a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and welcomed Nairobi’s upcoming position on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)—vowing to continue working together on matters regional security.

“It is great to be back in Nairobi to build on all areas of the UK-Kenya partnership. Our relationship on security continues to grow, including through our support to help fight crime, and we’re looking forward to joining forces next year to lead global action to educate every child,” he said.

Kenya will take over from South Africa in January 2021 as one of the three elected African members to the security council.

This is the highest diplomatic tour by a UK official to Kenya since the start of the global coronavirus pandemic and it comes two days after the two states signed a trade agreement on December 8 in London.

Kenya and the United Kingdom relationship is based on deep respect and mutual respect.