New digital public database to track stolen vehicles, motorbikes

(L) Assistant IG Dr Meshack Mutungi with Mogo customer Peter Chege Mwaura and Mogo Deputy Country Manager Branton Mutea at the official launch of Saka. [File Courtesy] Mogo, East Africa's leading asset financier, has launched SAKA, Kenya's first digital public database for stolen vehicles and motorbikes - a centralised platform for reporting and verifying stolen assets. Designed as a user-friendly, centralised tool, SAKA enables individuals to report and verify stolen vehicles in real time. The platform is a direct response to the growing problem of vehicle and motorbike theft in Kenya. This issue has raised serious security concerns and inflicted significant financial losses on individuals and the nation. Currently, the boda boda and matatu sectors employ over three million Kenyans. These sectors alone lose an estimated Sh3 billion annually due to theft and fraud. The vast majority of these losses are never recovered, largely due to outdated and fragmented reporting systems that hamper effective coordination. "SAKA is more than just a digital platform - it's a tool of empowerment," said Branton Mutea, Deputy Country Manager at Mogo Kenya. "The name 'SAKA' comes from everyday Swahili, meaning 'to search'. That's exactly what this platform is about: enabling Kenyans to actively search for the truth about a vehicle or motorbike before they buy, sell, or use it." Motor vehicle theft in Kenya occurs under various circumstances, including theft from parking areas, car hire scams, robbery with violence, and carjacking. These evolving tactics have made recovery and enforcement even more challenging, highlighting the urgent need for a centralised and accessible reporting system like SAKA. According to the Kenya National Economic Survey 2025, more than 7,000 cases of vehicle theft have been reported in the past five years. While over 6,900 suspects have been arrested during this period, fewer than 40 convictions have been secured for vehicle theft-related offences. The platform also addresses broader security risks posed by stolen vehicles. Statistics show that around 40% of stolen motorbikes are later used in robberies and other criminal activities. Furthermore, fewer than 10% of vehicle thefts in Kenya are currently reported via digital channels - a shortfall that SAKA aims to remedy by making reporting simple, swift, and accessible to all. Beyond its practical applications, SAKA is expected to spark important conversations around digital innovation, public safety, and the modernisation of crime prevention strategies in Kenya. By providing a collaborative digital ecosystem for citizens, law enforcement, and stakeholders in the transport sector, Mogo is positioning itself at the forefront of technology-driven solutions to long-standing challenges. "This platform is a transformative step towards improving public safety and safeguarding the livelihoods of countless Kenyans, particularly those working in the informal transport economy. SAKA gives everyone the power to saka ukweli - to seek the truth," added Mr Mutea.

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