Kenya brings international investigators together to tackle rising digital and cross-border crime

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 2 — Kenya has brought together international investigators, financial institutions and security agencies for a seven-day seminar aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to investigate increasingly complex crimes, including digital fraud, cryptocurrency-related offences and human trafficking.

The second International Police Association (IPA) International Investigations Seminar, which began on November 1 at the National Criminal Investigations Academy (NCIA), is focusing on technology-driven investigations, professional ethics and cross-border cooperation in tackling emerging criminal threats.

The seminar brings together law enforcement professionals from Kenya and several countries, including Nigeria, Japan, the United States and Sri Lanka, alongside representatives from public institutions, universities, financial institutions and private security firms.

Opening the seminar on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said investigators needed to combine professional integrity with technological competence and international cooperation to keep pace with evolving criminal networks.

“Modern policing demands investigators who combine professional integrity, technological competence and international cooperation to stay ahead of evolving criminal threats,” Nyaga said.

The seven-day programme, running until November 7, will cover financial cybercrime, digital fraud, ransomware, cryptocurrency investigations, asset tracing, forensic evidence management and human trafficking.

Other areas of focus include ethical investigations, child protection, human rights in policing and the broader criminal justice system.

The President of the IPA Kenya Section, Jared Ojuok, said combating modern crime required closer collaboration between law enforcement agencies, private sector players and international policing networks.

“Combating modern crime requires more than law enforcement efforts; it calls for strong partnerships between public institutions, the private sector and international policing networks,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), NCIA Chief Instructor Solomon Musai said the seminar would provide investigators with an opportunity to exchange expertise and strengthen partnerships across borders.

Participants include representatives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), KCB Bank, Strathmore University, Nairobi County Government enforcement department and private security companies.

The international faculty includes Daniel Lorch of IPA Germany, Christos Parginos of IPA Greece and Norway-based human behaviour analyst Abdibasid Ali Mohamed.

Other resource persons include EACC Deputy Director for Forensics Ignatius Wekesa and David Wekesa, head of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit.

The seminar is organised by the IPA Kenya Section in collaboration with NCIA, the National Police Service’s training institution for criminal investigators.

The second edition builds on the inaugural seminar held last year, with the academy continuing to use international professional exchanges to strengthen investigative capacity and promote ethical, technology-capable policing.

​Bruhan Makong is a Senior News Reporter for Capital FM in Nairobi, covering diplomacy, foreign policy, national security, climate, and human rights across East Africa and the wider region.