The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has been recognized as an international crime-busting body after it was contracted by the government of Seychelles.
In a statement shared on Monday, May 23, the agency's Forensic Ballistics Lab and the Bomb Disposal & Hazardous Materials unit was hired to help the island solve a case involving guns.
The matter first came to the limelight after the arrest of an individual possessing a cache of assorted firearms and over 35,000 different caliber of ammunition.
DCI was later brought in to trace the country of origin, manufacturer, make, and type among others determine whether the firearms had prior to their recovery been used to commit crimes.
"Since the successful operationalization of the DCI-National Forensic Laboratory, the facility has proved to be an effective tool in solving complex crimes, not only in Kenya but across the region.
"On a request from the government of Seychelles, experts drawn from our Forensic Ballistics lab and the Bomb Disposal & Hazardous materials unit are currently in Seychelles on an international assignment," read the statement in part.
The officers have begun documenting all the firearms and ammunition through preliminary test-firing.
They are also expected to take the guns to the ballistics lab to conduct a comprehensive analysis and prepare a detailed report to be handed over to authorities in Seychelles.
Upon arrival, they were received by the country’s Director of Criminal Investigations, Jefrey Antoine.
The state-of-the-art DCI-National Forensic Laboratory was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta towards the end of February 2022.
It is tasked with identifying, seizing, acquiring, and analyzing all electronic devices related to all cyber-enabled offences reported to collect digital evidence which is presented in a court of law for prosecution purposes.
Plans to set up the lab kicked off in the 1990s under President Daniel Moi at a cost of Ksh4.1 billion but were riddled with scandals. The construction of the physical building was completed in 2015.
