The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will benefit from enhanced forensic capabilities as 28 analysts at the National Police Service Forensic Laboratory (NPS-FL) undertake specialized training supported by the United States Government.
In a meeting held on September 26, the Director, NPS-FL, Sospeter Munyi, together with ICITAP delegations including Mindy Prado and 28 course participants from the Forensic Biology and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) units, discussed how to improve crime investigations.
Sospeter Munyi further noted that the DCI was modernizing the investigation approach to ensure that laboratory findings are accurate.
Additionally, he emphasized that the collaboration from the US government had equipped the Kenyan analysts with skills in DNA technology as well as digital forensics.
“This partnership marks a transformative milestone for our forensic capabilities. By equipping our analysts with world-class skills in DNA technology, blood pattern analysis, and digital forensics, we are fundamentally modernizing our investigative approach and ensuring our laboratory delivers irrefutable, empirical evidence to the criminal justice system,” NPS-FL Director Sospeter Munyi stated.
ICITAP delegation, led by Mindy Prado, also acknowledged that the partnership between the US and the investigation department is a shared commitment to global forensic excellence.
To continue the initiative, the partners explained that training will continue in partnership with the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP), with the current course focusing on forensic biology and crime scene investigation.
According to the DCI, the enhanced training will involve 28 participants: 13 analysts from the Forensic Biology unit and 15 analysts from the Forensic Crime Scene Investigation (FCSI) unit.
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28 Analysts to Undergo Specialized Training
Thirteen analysts from the Forensic Biology unit are undergoing training in forensic serology and DNA analysis.
Forensic serology training will deal with the examination of biological material and body fluids that may be recovered during investigations. At the same time, DNA analysis can help establish associations between biological evidence and individuals or other evidence relevant to a case.
A separate group of 15 analysts from the Forensic Crime Scene Investigation unit is undertaking training in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA).
For Kenyan crime scene investigators, specialized training in BPA will provide analytical skills for the examination of scenes where blood evidence is present and the examination of the characteristics, distribution, and patterns of bloodstains at a scene.
Digital Evidence and Fingerprints
According to the DCI, the capacity-building program also covers digital evidence collection and preservation.
Additionally, the training will also involve the chemical processing for latent fingerprint analysis and foundational protocols for post-blast investigations.
During training, the analysts will be trained in procedures applicable when forensic examination follows an explosion under the post-blast investigation protocols.
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ICITAP Partnership
ICITAP is a United States Department of Justice program that provides training and technical assistance to law enforcement institutions internationally.
US Department of Justice records show ICITAP actively engaged Kenyan police institutions in 2023 and visited Kenya’s National Police Leadership Academy in August 2023.
Following the partnership, 131 forensic experts graduated from six forensic courses sponsored by ICITAP.
“131 forensic experts graduated having undergone six different forensic courses that were sponsored by the International Criminal Investigative Assistance Program (ICITAP), an initiative of the United States,” DCI reported.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has reaffirmed its commitment to support ICITAP in expanding advanced training across all units.
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