Murkomen Reveals Plans to Strengthen DCI with More Staff and Modern Facilities
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced plans to hire more personnel for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in an effort to strengthen its operations and address existing gaps.
This comes amid growing concerns over how the DCI has handled various cases, particularly those involving the forced disappearances of Kenyans.
Speaking after his first official visit to the investigative agency, Murkomen emphasized that he would spearhead efforts to modernize the DCI to align with present-day demands.
Strengthening Investigations with Modern Technology
“To effectively handle the current technological and scientific demands in criminal investigations, the government will ensure the full operationalization of the National Forensic Laboratory.
Additionally, we will revamp the National Criminal Investigations Academy to equip our investigators with advanced skills,” Murkomen said in a statement.
He further noted that one of the key priorities would be to recruit more specialized personnel to bridge the human resource gap in the organization.
According to Murkomen, the DCI plays a critical role in combating crime across the country, and strengthening its capacity is a key government priority.
National Forensic Laboratory to Boost Investigations
The National Forensic Laboratory, officially inaugurated on June 13, 2022, by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, was established to enhance Kenya’s ability to conduct scientific investigations.
The facility is designed to handle a wide range of forensic tasks, including fingerprint identification, document examination, ballistics analysis, and chemical testing such as toxicology.
Additionally, it facilitates DNA analysis, visual and audio evidence processing, and biological assessments.
Other crucial functions of the laboratory include managing and preserving physical evidence, supporting crime scene analysis and reconstruction, handling digital evidence such as data recovery, and analyzing explosives and hazardous substances.
DCI Departments and Key Roles
The DCI has multiple departments handling different aspects of crime investigation and law enforcement. These include:
- Administration Directorate – Oversees human resources, finance, and logistics.
- Operations Directorate – Manages nationwide operations.
- Investigation Directorate – Focuses on serious crimes such as homicides, narcotics, human trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, economic crimes, piracy, organized crime, and cybercrime.
- Forensic Directorate – Specializes in forensic analysis and criminal records management.
Murkomen has expressed a strong commitment to enhancing the Forensic Directorate, recognizing its crucial role in gathering scientific evidence for investigations.
Specialized Units within the DCI
Within the DCI, several specialized units play a significant role in crime prevention and investigation, including:
- Crime Research Intelligence Bureau – Analyzes crime patterns and provides intelligence reports.
- Special Operations Group – Handles high-risk operations requiring advanced tactical expertise.
- Counter-Terrorism Centre of Excellence – Focuses on combating terrorist activities.
- Serious Crime Unit – Investigates high-profile criminal cases.
- Operations Support Unit – Provides assistance to different divisions.
- Public Complaints Department – Addresses grievances from the public regarding DCI operations.
These departments and specialized units offer a variety of employment opportunities, ranging from investigators, forensic analysts, and intelligence officers to administrative staff and tactical operatives.
Previous Recruitment Efforts
The DCI has undertaken several recruitment drives in recent years to boost its workforce. In May 2023, the agency received an additional 350 police officers from the Kenya Police Service to help fill personnel shortages in different sections. Before that, in January 2019, the DCI recruited 600 specialists to strengthen its investigative capabilities.
With Murkomen’s latest push for modernization and increased staffing, the DCI is set to receive further reinforcements to enhance its ability to tackle crime efficiently.
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