Successes Kinoti Has Achieved In Four Years As DCI Boss

Former Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti listed down the special accolades he achieved during the four years he headed the investigative agency.

In his farewell letter on Friday, September 30, he credited himself for assembling a formidable team of detectives capable of transforming the DCI into a professional body similar to established global investigative agencies across the world.

"This has been a deliberate effort to ensure that DCI discharges its mandate efficiently and effectively, as expressed by the will of Kenyans in the 2010 Constitution and in conformity with established laws.

George Kinoti walks out of DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road after handing over office on Friday, September 30, 2022. /DCI

"The shift has also been brought about by globalization propelled by rapid advances in technology and increasingly well-informed society," he wrote.

He did so by collaborating with the Executive and Legislative arms of government as well as local partners in the public, private sector and foreign missions that contributed greatly to turning the DCI into a world-class investigative body.

Kinoti also named the specialized training of over 400 detectives in diverse fields of investigations in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, China, India, Russia and South Africa as another milestone during his tenure, assembling a team that led the world in criminal investigations.

The training led to the DCI partnering with the U.S Department of State and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in creating the first Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) outside of the United States (US).

"Under this prestigious programme, 42 detectives drawn from the Anti Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) underwent a 12-week intensive counterterrorism training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where I also joined the detectives to inspire them and make Kenya proud," he underlined, adding that the task force was established after the Dusit D2 Hotel terrorist attack in January 2019.

Kinoti also oversaw the creation of the Homicide department, the Special Service Unit and the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), all of them conducting swift intelligence-led operations leading to the reduction of armed criminal activities in Kenya.

He also witnessed the construction of an ultra-modern DCI National Forensic laboratory which changed the atmosphere in which the unit managed a crime scene, gathered evidence, analyze it and used the results to go after and arrest suspects.

"Today, the DCI stands proud among its peers in the developed world, in offering outstanding investigative services. Across the African continent, DCI is currently recognized as one of the leading investigative agencies, and has in the last few years received invitations from various countries to assist in solving crime puzzles," a proud Kinoti stated. 

Kinoti was elected as Africa's delegate to the Interpol Executive Committee and witnessed the establishment of a robust Corporate Communications and Public Affairs unit, and the dissemination of information through creative storytelling on its social media pages which has seen it surpass 1 million followers on Twitter.

"This was a deliberate move to give the directorate a human face and increase our interaction with the people we serve. Consequently, to further gain public trust and confidence, a modern 3-star cafeteria that is open to the public was established at DCI headquarters.

"I thank the government and the people of Kenya for the opportunity I had to serve for 30 years, from a police constable to the DCI boss. I also thank all the foreign missions, stakeholders and partners, with whom we have worked together towards transforming the directorate into a respectable investigative agency," he added. 

Kinoti concluded by thanking all detectives he worked together, stating that he will forever be greatly indebted to them for their support. 

"We would not have travelled this far without prayers from Kenyans whose faith inspired and strengthened us no matter how drearily or challenging the times were."