Home / National

DCI recruits more officers for Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau

A file photo of the main entrance to the headquarters of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kiambu County. (Photo: X/ DCI)

By Mary Wambui | 20 Feb 2024

The Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), based at the DCI headquarters in Kiambu County, profiles offenders, and researches and analyses crimes across the country.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is seeking to boost its pool of criminal profiles with the deployment of more officers to the elite Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB).

The critical unit based at the DCI headquarters in Kiambu County profiles offenders, and researches and analyses crimes across the country.

Keep reading

A memo to police commanders, dated February 7, 2024, says candidates must be below age 40 and in the rank of a chief inspector and below. They must have had no disciplinary case over the last three years and must have good drafting and communication skills.

Additionally, they must have attained a minimum of a C plain in either Swahili or English and an overall mean grade of C plain in their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams and passed the police law examination.

"Diploma/ degree holders in information technology or any other related field and with a valid driving license will have an added advantage," the memo states.

The CRIB, established in 2018, also offers advisories on crime trends and patterns, making it a critical data repository link in the general fight against criminal activities in the country. Its advisory role is integral to crime management, as some of the major government decisions are informed by its findings.

The unit is the backbone of intelligence-driven operations as it works with other special units across various security agencies.

It has in the past been credited with cracking high-profile cases such as murders, including that of Catholic priest Michael Kyengo, as well as armed robberies.

As far as research is concerned, the theft of mobile phones is among the investigations on which the unit has been engaged - special squaD was tasked with narrowing down gaps fueling the exportation of stolen phones to neighbouring countries.

Before Kenya began the large-scale importation of motorcycles, the unit played a critical role in researching the pros and cons that would come with the proliferation of boda bodas in the country.

"From the start, we knew the motorcycles would bring an upsurge in crime but their benefits were more than their disadvantages and the crimes that would tag along were not so complex that they couldn't be managed," an official said.

Last week, the CRIB's immediate former head, John Onyango was promoted to the deputy director of criminal investigations replacing Nicholas Ireri Kamwede, who retired.

Dennis Okadapau, the immediate former Director of Counter Violent Extremism (CVE), was appointed the new head of the CRIB, and David Cheruiyot, the immediate former Pangani Sub-county director of criminal investigations, named his successor.