Isiolo County: A new mobile phone application that enables residents to report incidences of insecurity faster and efficiently has been launched in Isiolo County.
The new platform dubbed M-jirani, introduced by Nomadic Women for Sustainable Development (NOWSUD), a local NGO based in Isiolo town, will complement the existing government’s Nyumba Kumi Initiative, a community policing model in ensuring that security interventions are timely and well informed.
Amongst its numerous features, M-Jirani will facilitate quick transmission of reliable information between area residents and local administration security structures for response.
The initiative is supported by the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi-DANIDA through Act! as part of the Peace, Security and Stability Program.
Among other things, the program seeks to enhance engagement of women in leadership roles in peace and security activities and facilitating collaborations between CSOs and government agencies in addressing conflicts and countering violent extremism in the country.
According to Sammy Kariuki, the Program Manager at NOWSUD, area residents will now be able to relay crucial security information or incidents that pose threats to the region’s security. “The launch of this App is timely and will go a long way in tackling the wave of radicalization among young people in the area”, he said during the launch of the app in Isiolo.
NOWSUD hopes that M-Jirani will be well received by the community and hopefully implemented in other Counties. It also plans to develop the platform further by adding more features; including possibilities for sharing other types of information. NOWSUD is optimistic that the use of technology will further strengthen the bonds of co-existence and promote active participation and collaboration amongst all stakeholders within the community.
Through its work, NOWSUD has mainstreamed women in peacebuilding efforts by providing a space and enabling environment for them to actively contribute to peace building in hitherto patriarchal community. The involvement of women in peacebuilding has led to their increased and active engagement in leadership as illustrated by the fact that most of the Nyumba Kumi structures, local administration (Assistant Chiefs) and peace committees in the County are headed by women.
DANIDA in partnership with Act! is committed to building the capacity of communities and grassroots organizations to complement the Kenya government’s efforts in addressing emerging conflicts, developing and implementing coherent national security policies, action plans and strategies as well as countering violent extremism.
