Nairobi News

Kenya has taken a significant step in enhancing child safety with the introduction of AMBER Alerts through Facebook and Instagram, making it the fourth African country to join the program after South Africa, Nigeria, and Morocco.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, unveiled an in-app Amber Alert system aimed at rapidly disseminating information about missing children, enabling users to share notices and aid in the search efforts.

The launch, which took place on March 18, 2024, in partnership with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Anti-Human Trafficking & Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU) and Missing Child Kenya, aims to bolster the search for missing children by increasing public awareness and involvement.

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Emily Vacher, Director of Trust and Safety at Meta, emphasised the critical role of community engagement in locating missing children, particularly within the crucial first few hours.

She explained that when law enforcement activates an AMBER Alert in the designated search area, users in that vicinity will receive alerts on their Facebook and Instagram feeds.

“These alerts will contain vital information about the missing child, including a photo, description, location of the abduction, and any other pertinent details. Users can also share the alert with their networks to amplify the search efforts,” she said.

Raymond Omollo, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, remarked that traditional methods of reporting lost children have proven challenging.

“The incorporation of technology will enable individuals to swiftly locate and report instances of missing children. This initiative is designed to supplement existing reporting methods. Given the widespread access to platforms like Facebook and Instagram, it will empower online users to not only block unwanted messages but also report them,” he stated.

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Maryana Munyendo, Founder/CEO of Missing Child Kenya, highlighted the significance of leveraging technological advancements to facilitate timely reporting and information sharing in locating missing children.

“It takes a village to raise a child – and with technological advances, the global village is now borderless and digital.

The launch of the AMBER Alert, now known as the “Kenya Emergency Child Alert” program on Facebook and Instagram, will enhance data sharing, provision of information and timely reporting of missing children in Kenya. We are proud to be part of this initiative that champions for Better Data – Better Lives.”

Mr Mohammed Amin, Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with Meta, emphasising the role of increased public vigilance in responding to missing child cases.

“This initiative will enable a faster response in locating missing children by engaging more people to be vigilant and report any leads to the appropriate authorities. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) values this partnership with Meta and we are eager to work together to help find missing children in Kenya.”