A detective attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)'s Anti Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit was awarded in Manhattan, New York City, for his role in smoking out a notorious internet child predator.
Lawrence Okoth was feted at an elaborate gala ceremony for child protection held at Cipriani 42nd Street, in New York City alongside two other exceptional police officers, from India and Guatemala.
According to the DCI, Okoth has an outstanding record in handling matters affecting children and safeguarding their rights.
He is a certified digital forensic investigator who specializes in hunting down criminals preying on innocent children and for the last three years, he had employed his skills to nab suspects, earning him international recognition.
The investigative agency revealed an outstanding case where detective Okoth assisted by other officers from the Child Protection unit arrested a 71-year-old man suspected of being a child predator after he shared disturbing tapes online.
"The elderly man would permanently put his victims on stupefying drugs as Okoth and team later discovered while rescuing the two boys in Ukunda.
"While in Kisumu, the pensioner, who received his monthly cheque from his previous employer in Germany, continued luring young boys aged between 11-13 into his trap, before defiling them until he was arrested on May 2020 in Nairobi, as he tried to escape our dragnet accompanied by yet another juvenile victim," the DCI stated on the case investigated by Okoth.
According to the DCI, the suspect had a past criminal record before moving to Kenya. He had spent 5 years in various jails in South Korea, on drug-related charges.
After his release from prison in South Korea, in 2018, the suspect moved to the Kenyan South coast, Ukunda where he began preying on young boys.
"However, since his arrest in 2020, the jailbird has been on remand at the Industrial Area prison as his trial continues. His efforts to be repatriated back to his country to face trial were received with heavy opposition from Okoth and team who are keen to have him tried in the country," the DCI remarked.
The work done by Okoth and his team on the case got the attention of the International Centre of Missing and Exploited Children based in the United States, and also earned detective Okoth global recognition, and an invitation to receive the Everyday Hero Award.
"In his acceptance remarks, detective Okoth who could barely hold his tears of joy wowed the guests further as he recounted incidents of how he had rescued minors from exploitation and helped them regain back their lives and dignity," DCI remarked.
Detective Okoth acknowledged the tremendous support he had received from the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in terms of training that he attributed to enabling him and his colleagues to detect and intercept child exploitation materials shared on the world wide web by predators.
He also recognised his colleagues at the Child Protection Unit whom they work closely in rescuing vulnerable children and DCI boss George Kinoti, for his leadership of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
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