President Kenyatta to officially open Forensic Lab tomorrow
President Uhuru Kenyatta will officially open the Forensic Lab at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)headquarters tomorrow.
The facility which has been under construction for at least 20 years will commence operations immediately.
According to DCI boss George Kinoti, the lab will be instrumental in scientifically analyzing samples and exhibits of evidence presented in court.
The lab will also facilitate the fast-tracking of investigations of serious crimes such as terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, cyber-crime and rape, among others.
Some of the special features that will upgrade services provided by the DCI include cybercrime analysis, chemical analysis, forensic ballistics, scene-of-crime analysis, biometric and fingerprints analysis, and bomb and explosives analysis.
Further the lab will enable the DCI conduct DNA testing, photographic, video and audio analysis, cybercrime, biological and chemical testing, and quality control, among others.
Kinoti has been quoted in the past speaking on the need for the boys in blue to change tact while fighting crime.
“The laboratory will help us to back up what we have been doing with scientific proof. The success rate in the prosecution of cases will go up,” Kinoti said.
He assured the public that the new labs will help increase successful processions due to the high standard of evidence that shall be collected hence with.
Previously the DCI relied on foreign and private laboratories to conduct tests for evidence on issues under probe. Toxicological tests are done either in South Africa or in Europe.
