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Police, Safety & Your Rights

How to Report a Crime in Kenya

Civic Education · Making a report that counts

To report a crime, go to a police station, where your report is recorded in the Occurrence Book (OB) and given an OB number — your reference for follow-up. Serious crimes go to the DCI, and emergencies to the police hotline.

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Quick Answer

To report a crime, go to a police station, where your report is recorded in the Occurrence Book (OB) and given an OB number — your reference for follow-up. Serious crimes go to the DCI, and emergencies to the police hotline.

Key facts

  • Report crime at a police station.
  • Your report is logged in the Occurrence Book with an OB number.
  • Keep the OB number — it is your reference.
  • Emergencies: call the police hotline (999 / 112 / 911).

Making the report

Go to a police station and report the matter to the officer on duty. The report is entered in the Occurrence Book (OB) — the official record — with your details, the offence and a unique OB number.

Keep your OB number

The OB number is your reference. Note it down: you’ll need it to follow up on the case, and it is proof that you reported the matter — sometimes required for insurance, replacing lost documents, or court.

Serious crime and emergencies

Serious or complex crimes (fraud, violent crime, cybercrime) are handled by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and some reports can be made online. In an emergency, call the national police hotline (999, 112 or 911) for an immediate response.

Why this matters to you

A crime not properly reported — with an OB number — is hard to follow up or prove. Knowing how to report, and to keep your reference, is the difference between a case that moves and one that vanishes.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I report a crime?

At a police station, where it is logged in the Occurrence Book.

What is an OB number?

The unique reference for your report — keep it to follow up and as proof.

What number do I call in an emergency?

The police hotline: 999, 112 or 911.

Sources & references

  • National Police Service — nationalpolice.go.ke
  • Directorate of Criminal Investigations — cid.go.ke
Civic information, not legal advice.Use the linked official sources and seek qualified professional advice for individual legal matters.
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