• The Directorate also established the Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Unit, which has helped engage the public in and outside the country.
• He said to achieve this, he had to work closely with the executive and legislative arms of the government.
Image: HAND OUT
Outgoing DCI Director George Kinoti has penned a farewell message to the Directorate, Kenyans and the government thanking them for their cooperation throughout his term.
Kinoti further expressed his gratitude for being accorded the opportunity to serve in the law enforcement sector for 30 years.
He rose ranks from a police constable to the DCI Director.
"To all detectives whom we worked together, I remain greatly indebted to you for your support, as I wouldn't have done it alone," he said in a statement on Friday.
He also thanked the foreign bodies and stakeholders who have helped shape the Directorate.
Kinoti detailed the successes that DCI has had under his leadership, pointing out that it has led to a friendlier and safer country.
"Undoubtedly, the efforts put in place by my administration in giving the Directorate a human face and professionalizing it to a world-class investigative body have borne the desired results," he said.
Kinoti said over time, 400 detectives have received training in various fields of investigations in China, the US, the UK, Germany, India, Russia and South Africa.
The Directorate became the first investigative agency to have a Joint Terrorism Task Force with the FBI and US Department of State, outside the US.
Its creation was prompted by the Al Shabaab terrorist attack on DusitD2 Hotel.
"This was after it was established that there was a need for a multi-agency counterterrorism investigative force in the country. As a result, there has been a decrease in the number of reported terrorism-related cases in the country," Kinoti said.
The JTTF resulted in a 12-week intensive counterterrorism training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Kinoti and 42 other detectives from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit benefitted from the training.
The outgoing Director said the task force has protected the country against terrorism as evidenced in the conviction and life sentencing of Ibrahim Robow, the main suspect behind the abduction of Cuban doctors in Mandera.
He said the JTTF also expanded to dealing with wildlife and narcotics trafficking, leading to the arrest and extradition of two suspects wanted by INTERPOL.
He pointed out that the UK government has helped improve DCI's infrastructure and human resources, easing crime solving.
UK and DCI partnered to build and equip a multi-million ATPU headquarters at Coast.
"The ultra-modern complex that is the first of its kind in the NPS provides space for detectives to work on terrorism cases, conductive effective investigations and encourage stronger links with the local community that is most affected by terrorism," Kinoti said.
He added that the UK, through the National Crime Agency, funded an anonymous toll-free call centre, for the public to report crimes anonymously.
He said the #FichuakwaDCI has led to a significant reduction in crimes, especially in urban centres.
Kinoti said the German government has helped the Directorate tackle crimes through the GIZ programme.
"Through this programme, over 1,000 detectives have been locally trained at the DCI Academy in various forensic investigations, most notably the Crime Scene Investigations (CSI), which form the foundation upon which every successful investigation is built," he said.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
He added that in June 2021, DCI received over Sh2 million worth of forensic investigation kits from the GIZ.
Kinoti pointed out that DCI has earned a place in the investigative sector across the continent, having aided neighbouring nations including Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and South Sudan.
He said this contributed to his election as Africa's delegate to INTERPOL executive committee.
"This is the first time that Kenya is occupying a seat at the decision-making table of the global security body, where key decisions regarding the investigation of international crimes affecting 195 member countries are made," he added.
The Directorate also established the Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Unit, which has helped engage the public in and outside the country.
This helped create a human face for DCI, alongside the three-star hotel at the headquarters which is open to the public.
Others are the creation of the DCI Women's Volleyball team and the DCI choir.
He said to achieve this, he had to work closely with the executive and legislative arms of the government.
"We would not have travelled this far without prayers from Kenyans whose faith inspired and strengthened us no matter how drearily or challenging the times were," Kinoti said quoting the scripture in Mathew 20:27-28.
"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Image: HAND OUT