By CYRUS OMBATI
The construction of the national police forensics lab has finally started, giving hope that police will soon be able to investigate intricate terror and criminal cases.
The works began two weeks ago at the CID headquarters in Nairobi, in a low key event ahead of the planned official ground breaking by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Officials aware of the project said more than Sh200 million has been set aside for the construction after the cost was scaled-down from an earlier budget prepared about a decade ago.
This will include installing CCTV cameras, incinerators and cabling in the lab.
READ MORE
How Gen Z protesters were abducted, extorted by armed hooded men
How lack of basic knowledge denies Kenyans justice
Prisons crowded with remandees unable to pay Sh1,000 bail, report says
A fully-equipped forensics lab is expected to assist the police build a crime database, which includes fingerprint and DNA records. Lack of a lab has been part of the police’s problems for years.
CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro said the project is a milestone in police work and in particular crime management. This would enable the police to close thousands of cases that go unsolved for failure to nail the suspects despite compelling circumstantial evidence.
About Sh1.5 billion had been provided for the project.
Officials did not disclose contractors who have been awarded the project. Police have routinely blamed failure to prosecute criminals on the lack of a properly-equipped forensics lab.
However, the location of the laboratory at CID headquarters will not help matters as most crimes are committed at grassroots level.
Police at times transport samples to South Africa for testing and analysis, which has affected speedy delivery of justice. The Police Service is pushing for a forensics lab in every county, with the one at the headquarters serving as a national referral unit.
“We’d like to see such an investment in every county,” said Muhoro.
