L–R: Mogo Customer Care Agent Viola Keitany, Mogo Deputy Country Manager Branton Mutea and Customer Care Agent Eugene Lanogwa Vuyala at the newly launched Mogo Call Centre./HANDOUT
For many Kenyans, a stolen car or motorbike means more than just a lost asset — it can be the end of a livelihood. Now, a new 24-hour emergency hotline is giving victims a fighting chance.
Mogo, a well-known asset financing company, has launched a round-the-clock hotline to help people report and recover stolen vehicles and motorcycles.
The number 0719 089 999 offers immediate support to anyone affected by theft, at any time of day or night.
The hotline builds on SAKA, a digital public database launched by Mogo just a month ago. It allows anyone to report, verify, and track stolen vehicles or motorcycles online.
The new emergency line takes that effort a step further by offering fast, direct help, especially to those caught off guard by a theft in the middle of the night or on the road.
“Cases of motor vehicle and motorcycle theft are increasing at an alarming rate, and the launch of our 24/7 emergency service is a direct response to that,” said Branton Mutea, Mogo’s Deputy Country Manager.
In just one month, the hotline has already received over 150 reports, with more than half of the stolen vehicles recovered. Mogo says it’s a promising sign that fast action and coordination can make a real difference.
The need couldn’t be more urgent. Over the past five years, Kenya has recorded more than 7,000 cases of stolen vehicles and motorcycles, according to the latest government data. Yet, despite nearly 7,000 arrests, fewer than 40 convictions have been made.
For many boda boda riders, the risks are even higher. A single stolen motorbike can mean losing a job — and sometimes, much worse.
The National Crime Research Centre has documented numerous cases of riders being assaulted, robbed, or even killed during theft incidents. In 2024 alone, over 10,000 motorcycles have been reported stolen.
The losses go beyond numbers.
A recent insurance report noted that nearly a third of stolen vehicles in 2023 were valued at over Sh3 million. And some, like a Mitsubishi lorry taken earlier this year, were worth over Sh12 million.
With police pointing to places like Nairobi, Kiambu, Kisumu, and Machakos as hotspots for vehicle theft, recovery remains a major challenge. Only about 15 per cent of stolen vehicles are ever recovered.
Mogo hopes to change that. The company is now working with police, private security firms, insurers, and sector associations to improve response times and support recovery efforts.
Their emergency hotline is open to everyone — not just Mogo clients. And even if a caller isn’t a customer, the team helps them file reports and learn how to use the SAKA platform to track theft.
“Our long-term goal is to create a trusted, collaborative ecosystem where technology, partnerships and public awareness combine to reduce theft and support quick recoveries,” said Mutea.
For the thousands of Kenyans who depend on their vehicles and motorbikes to earn a living, this effort may bring more than just recovery — it could restore hope.
