The European Union and the Government of Kenya have rolled out a new joint programme designed to boost the country’s ability to investigate crimes linked to cryptocurrency and other digital assets.
The initiative, implemented through the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), introduces a specialised training module that will equip officers with deeper knowledge and modern investigative skills to keep up with fast-evolving threats in the virtual assets space.
In a statement released by the DCI, officials said the new Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Investigation Training Module represents an important step in updating Kenya’s law enforcement systems so they can effectively respond to new criminal methods.
The programme seeks to make Kenya a key regional centre for digital crime investigations at a time when global financial transactions are increasingly shifting to digital and virtual platforms.
The launch was led by National Forensic Laboratory Director Rosemary Kuraru, who emphasised that detectives at the Kiambu Road headquarters are fully committed to staying ahead of criminal groups that use decentralised technology for illegal activities.
She explained that criminal networks are now relying heavily on online platforms and anonymous, borderless transactions to hide money-laundering operations, commit fraud, finance terrorism, and carry out other cyber-enabled crimes.
Kuraru added that law enforcement agencies must keep inventing new approaches and updating their skills because criminals are moving rapidly into digital spaces where tracking them becomes more difficult.
She noted that the new training module will give officers a strong advantage by helping them better understand and operate within these complex digital environments.
The European Union has fully funded and supplied technical support for the programme as part of its broader effort to strengthen international cooperation against digital and cross-border criminal networks.
How the Programme Will Work
Through this partnership, DCI officers—along with other key stakeholders—will receive specialised training on how to trace and analyse blockchain transactions, investigate crimes linked to cryptocurrency, examine digital wallets, and interpret activities within the broader crypto ecosystem.
Digital assets continue to grow in popularity among Kenyans, and the government is currently working on drafting a law to regulate virtual assets and protect users from potential risks in the sector.
The new training module is expected to help close gaps in the digital assets market by giving officers sharper investigative tools and allowing them to follow illegal financial trails across different countries.
The initiative will also support the government’s push to modernise the DCI’s cybercrime and financial investigations units, ensuring they match global standards.
With these improvements, Kenya is expected to enhance its ability to deal with modern threats such as ransomware attacks, crypto-related scams, and cross-border digital fraud schemes.
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