US Gifts DCI 4 Vehicles As War On Drugs Intensifies [PHOTOS]

Kellams lauded the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Kenya's foremost investigative agency in the fight against transnational organized crimes.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Aug 23, 2023 - 16:08 Updated: Aug 23, 2023 - 17:49
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US Gifts DCI 4 Vehicles As War On Drugs Intensifies [PHOTOS]
US government donates 4 vehicles to DCI on August 23, 2023. /DCI

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)'s fight against crime in the country, has received a major boost after a donation of four vehicles from the United States (US), through the US Africa Command. 

According to DCI's statement, the vehicles were on Wednesday, August 23 handed over by Joseph Kellams, a top official from the US embassy who was representing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Country Attaché, in a ceremony held at the DCI headquarters. 

Kellams lauded the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Kenya's foremost investigative agency in the fight against transnational organized crimes.

US government donates 4 vehicles to DCI on August 23, 2023. /DCI

They added that the vehicles would specifically complement DCI’s mobility efforts in the fight against drug trafficking.

"While receiving the vehicles, the DCI Deputy Director Ireri Kamwende, acknowledged the immense support that the Directorate had continued to receive courtesy of the US embassy in Nairobi, adding that the donation would go far in boosting the Directorate’s effectiveness in responding to contemporary security challenges in the country," stated the DCI in part.

Kamwende was representing the DCI Director Mohamed Amin, who was engaged in other duties

The US official was accompanied by other high-ranking officers from Homeland Security including, Messrs Bryan McPherson and Kris Line among others.

US government donates 4 vehicles to DCI on August 23, 2023. /DCI

On December 2, 2022, the DCI Anti-Terrorism Police Unit and the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) received a major logistical boost after two top-of-the-range vehicles and twelve motorbikes were donated to the units by the US government. 

Among the vehicles included a Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 series retailing from Ksh17.5 million.

The DCI stated on Friday, December 2 that the donation aimed at boosting the units’ operations in the anti-terror campaign was made by the Federal Bureau of Investigations' (FBI) Anti-Terror Assistance Programme and the State Department Bureau of Counter Terrorism, represented by Messrs Mike Solis and Julius Nutter from the FBI.

"The partnership has seen the Directorate benefit immensely in terms of developing the human resource capacity of our men and women to respond to contemporary security challenges.

"This was after the realization that emerging threats such as terrorism and violent extremism are not unique to Kenya, but are global challenges that have also had devastating effects on the United States and its strategic allies and partners," the DCI stated in part.

On July 12, 2022, DCI repaired 32 vehicles which were unveiled at a cost of Ksh9.4 million.

A fleet of vehicles rehabilitated by DCI at a cost of Ksh9.4 million. /DCI

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