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The dream to have a National Forensic facility that would help solve crime scientifically has been elusive for years.
This is after initial plans to set up the lab failed to materialise three decades ago.
The facility had been identified as a security flagship project under Vision 2030 and was one of the projects to be completed under the first medium term plan 2008-2012.
Despite being classified under the security, peace building and conflict management sector, the project failed to start until March 2014, when the current administration started the project.
Over the last nine years, the government has invested in the construction of the physical structure and installed the relevant equipment in the 10 scientific labs in the laboratory.
It was officially commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta on June 13.
The facilities include Forensic Fingerprint Identification, Forensic Document Examination, Forensic Ballistics, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Biology, Forensic Imaging and Acoustics.
Others are Forensic Evidence Management, Forensic Crime Scene Investigations, Forensic Digital and the Forensic Bomb and Hazardous materials laboratories.
The relevant experts drawn from the DCI have so far been trained locally and internationally, and have been deployed in their respective areas of specialisation to offer their professional services.
FORENSIC FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION
This unit maintains custody of criminal records in form of fingerprints and issues certificates of previous convictions -C9a and non-previous convictions-C10.
It is a key support unit in crime scenes investigations and it is relied upon to offer forensic fingerprints analysis in the identification of victims of disasters, unknown dead bodies, analysis of questioned fingerprints on documents and offering expert evidence in courts
It issues police clearance certificates and compiles, publishes and distributes the National Police Gazette.
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
It carries out analytical procedures and processes for the interrogation of samples extracted at a scene of crime, by exploiting their chemical properties.
Experts have been deployed in this unit and their professional opinion that is purely guided by scientific findings is heavily relied upon in court.
The experts analyse arson debris, which involves the examination of materials from a fire to determine the presence or absence of an ignition liquid or substance.
Analysis of explosives, which entails the examination of post-explosion residues and identification of explosives on suspects’ hands, clothes or any other material is done at the DCI Forensic lab.
Experts in this unit are trained to perform forensic soil analysis, which is used in placing a suspect at a scene of crime by extracting soil samples from their shoes and matching the sample with the soil at a crime scene.
FORENSIC BIOLOGY
This lab examines physical evidence and performs DNA testing on a range of biological materials gathered concerning a specific case, before adducing their scientifically proven findings in court.
The experts apply the concepts and procedures of biological sciences in analysing cellular tissue samples and physiological fluids, relevant to a legal investigation.
The unit has been at the forefront of gathering, processing and analysing biological samples originating from crime and incident scenes.
Blood grouping and generating of DNA profiles of suspects, accused persons, convicted criminals and unidentified human remains are also done there. The lab maintains a DNA Index System.
The experts liaise with officers in the field and guide them in collecting samples and handling of exhibits requiring forensic biology analysis in cases such as homicides and sex-related crimes.
CYBERCRIME AND DIGITAL FORENSIC LABORATORY
The unit utilises the laboratory facilities by searching, identifying, seizing, preserving and analysing digital evidence.
The unit’s mandate extends to evidence recovery from digital equipment like computers, digital cameras, memory cards, flash drives and any other digital storage devices.
It conducts recovery of short text messages, contact lists, IMEI, videos and email route analysis.
Away from the laboratory, the Cybercrime officers engage in public cyber awareness on safe online practices on matters of child online protection and safe browsing
FORENSIC IMAGING AND ACOUSTICS
It is a section within the laboratory that supports forensic investigations by processing images, retrieval and analysis of CCTV footage, audio-visual recording, crime scene re-enactment through videography, confession video recording and analysis of acoustic evidence.
This section analyses CCTV exhibits and produces scientific reports to be presented before the court.
Detectives in this section receive, process and analyse biometric voice recognition and image exhibits from crime scenes.
The detectives in the forensic imaging and acoustic unit, conduct the production of photographic images for court evidence, investigations records and identifications.
They keep a rich databank of photographic records of police and national functions as well as produce security identification documents.
The same databank enables these officers to compile and profile image data for habitual offenders, which makes it easier to apprehend them or even predict their next moves.
FORENSIC CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS
This unit interrogates a scene of crime scientifically. It is done to discover evidential ingredients and any other investigative information that may be realised from the analytical processes at a scene of crime.
While attending to crime scenes, experts process and examine the scenes scientifically, to trace, package and label recovered evidence, to prove the culpability of a suspect or exonerate those not involved in a specific crime.
The unit is instrumental in crime scene reconstruction.
This is a forensic discipline that involves the experts in unravelling the series of events that surround the commission of a crime using deductive and inductive reasoning, scientific methods, events analysis and physical evidence examination and their interrelationships.
The experts are capable of placing criminals at scenes of crime scientifically, through hidden fingerprint search development and recovery.
They analyse the mode of operation of criminals through crime scene pattern analysis, which is essential in identifying similar crimes committed by a specific suspect and linking them to those crimes.
The unit conducts vehicle identification and serial numbers verification and restoration in vehicles and firearms.
Besides giving their expert opinion in court, the investigators also offer guidance and assist investigators in matters relating to crime scene preservation and exhibit handling.
FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
They often deal with the question of document authenticity.
To determine whether a document is genuine, an examiner may attempt to confirm who created the document, determine the timeframe, identify the materials used in its preparation or uncover modifications to the original text.
Document examiners are tasked with analysing handwriting and signatures and examining documents for evidence of alterations, obliterations, erasures and page substitutions.
The experts play a vital role in analysing forged travel documents such as visas and passports, indented writings, financial related documents, counterfeit currencies, seals and stamps impressions as well as forensic ink paper analysis.
FORENSIC BOMB AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
It provides the country with prompt mitigation of explosives and other hazardous materials.
These experts respond to bomb threats, explosives sweeps in mega VVIP functions, rendering safe possible improvised explosive devices, volatile chemicals, improvised explosive device reconstruction and bomber profiling.
Officers based at the unit analyse data generated from explosive device investigations and maintain a bomb data centre.
They also utilise specialised equipment to approach, inspect, disarm and remove all types of explosive devices within a given area.
They examine explosive devices to identify persons responsible for the devices’ manufacture and conduct advanced post-blast investigations.
The experts assist local jurisdictions in evidence gathering and crime scene processing, while also giving expert opinions in court.
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
This section is entrusted with the examination and identification of firearms, ammunition and their parts from all over the country and across the region.
Using equipment such as the latest Comparison Microscopes and the automated Ballistic Identification System, the ballistics experts link firearms to specific crimes, assisting investigators to solve firearms-related crimes by providing crucial investigative leads and intelligence.
In the execution of its duties, the unit conducts shooting incident reconstruction, gunshot residue and shot pattern analysis.
FORENSIC EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY CONTROL UNIT
This aspect is critical in the reconstruction of a scene, highlighting important leads such as the direction a shot was taken from.
Using their expertise, ballistics experts are responsible for restoring erased firearm serial numbers and unravelling obliterated numbers.
The Integrated Ballistics Identification System has aided in the creation and maintenance of the ballistics firearm database.
Laboratory quality assurance encompasses a range of activities that have enabled the various labs to achieve and maintain high levels of accuracy and proficiency.
The unit continuously strives to achieve high precision in laboratory testing processes to meet the desired accuracy.
Quality control has established standard operating procedures and standard methods for each step of the laboratory testing process ranging from specimen handling to instrument performance validation and monitoring.
According to DCI, in scenarios where corrective actions are desired, the unit specifies corrective measures, documentation as well as the experts responsible to carry out the corrective actions.
The unit reviews all analytical records for accuracy and completeness and may, in turn, approve or reject the procedures, specifications, methods and results.
To ensure that all the exhibits are not contaminated or adulterated, quality control experts perform proficiency tests to establish purity, potency and the composition of all the exhibits. BY THE STAR