The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji on Friday, February 3, appointed both senior and junior police officers to the specialised Scene of Crime Unit.
Haji appointed a total of 61 officers to the unit aimed at leading investigations into criminal cases throughout the country.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 78 of the Evidence Act, the Director of Public Prosecutions appoints the officers listed in the Schedule hereto, to be Scene of Crime Officers to take and prepare evidence of a photographic nature in criminal proceedings, for the purpose of producing certificates of photographic images from crime scenes under the Evidence Act," Haji wrote in a Gazette Notice dated January 19, 2023.
The unit is divided into two sections, Inspectorate and Crime Scene Investigators, both of which are made up of junior specialists.
Haji appointed eleven senior police officers to the Inspectorate section of the Scene of Crime Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Those appointed to the include Linus Kwemoi, Francis Kieti, Martin Mwongera Ithawa, Luttah M. Brigit, Pauline Wanjiku Wamuya, Julius Ephraim Irungu, Albino Esimamat Wchudi, Namaiyansarah Bokosh, Joseph Kathurima, Grace Njambi Ngure and Humphrey Waluse Lungwe.
The Crime Scene Investigation officers will be deployed across the country and will be required to attend to all criminal activity sites, especially, murder cases.
Some of the officers who were appointed to the Crime Scene Investigation section include Allan Njoka Njuguna, Juma Ali Kombo, Joel Otono, Nancy Nekesa, Robai Masika, Saumu Said Barasa and Naaftali Calvin Omondi.
The officers are highly trained in Forensic Sciences, especially Crime Scene Management thus their ability to take care of photographic evidence.
"Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any other law, no evidence shall be given in any suit or proceeding except evidence of the existence or non-existence of a fact in issue, and of any other fact declared by any provision of this Act to be relevant," CAP 80 of Kenya Evidence Act stipulates.
Haji aims to strengthen the Prosecution with professionals who will be able to accurately and efficiently collect, analyse and present evidence in the courts of law.
