President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, June 13 launched the new National Forensic Laboratory at DCI Headquarters, Mazingira House, in Nairobi County.
The highly specialized laboratory is a Vision of 2030 flagship project aimed at boosting Kenya's capabilities to fight complex crimes through interventions such as DNA profiling; weapons and ballistics testing; and document examination.
According to the DCI, there will be different specialized labs forming the National Forensic laboratory. Some of the units include;
A. Crime Scene Investigations Unit
The unit is entrusted with carrying out Forensic Crime Scene Investigations to interrogate a scene of crime scientifically. It is done to discover evidential ingredients and any other investigative information that may be realized from the analytical processes at a scene of the crime.
B. Forensic Chemistry Unit
The unit will play a critical role in carrying out analytical procedures and processes pertaining to interrogation of samples extracted at a scene of crime, by exploiting their chemical properties.
C. Forensic Biology Unit
The Forensic Biology lab examines physical evidence and performs DNA testing on a range of biological materials gathered in respect to a specific case, before adducing their scientifically proven findings in court.
Experts at the lab apply the concepts and procedures of biological sciences in analyzing cellular tissue samples and physiological fluids, relevant to a legal investigation.
D. Forensics Evidence Management Unit
The Forensic Evidence Management Unit administers and controls evidence in its entire life cycle. Before receiving and dispatching exhibits to various labs for analysis, the unit scans the exhibits for safety while at the same time maintains the integrity and confidentiality of the exhibits through Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) that also aids in maintaining a chain of custody.
E. Cybercrime and Digital Forensics Laboratory
The Digital Forensic Unit is tasked with providing forensic analysis of digital media and technical cyber investigation capabilities in support of criminal investigations in Kenya.
The unit utilizes the laboratory facilities by focusing on searching, identifying, seizing, preserving and analyzing digital evidence. The unit’s mandate extends to evidence recovery from digital equipment like computers, digital cameras, memory cards, flash drives and any other digital storage devices.
F. Anti-Terrorism Police Unit
Anti-terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) is an investigative unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) mandated to mitigate terrorism related cases in the country.
The key mandate of the Unit is to interdict terrorist activities within the country by countering violent extremism and effectively investigate all terrorism related cases.
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