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Kenyan Criminal Law

DCI (Directorate of Criminal Investigations)

Kenya's DCI is the national criminal investigation agency, handling serious crimes including cybercrime, corruption, and homicide. It operates independently of the regular police under the National Police Service Act.

Legal Definition

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is established under Section 28 of the National Police Service Act, 2011. The DCI is responsible for investigating serious crimes, gathering criminal intelligence, maintaining a Criminal Records Bureau, and operating forensic laboratories. It is headed by a Director appointed by the President. Specialised units within the DCI include: the Cybercrime Unit (for offences under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act); the Anti-Corruption Unit; the Homicide Unit; the Forensics Unit; and the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit (FCID) that works with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). You can report crimes to the DCI directly by visiting any DCI office, calling the DCI hotline, or reporting online at dci.go.ke. The DCI investigates and forwards files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for charging decisions.

📖 Constitutional / Statutory Basis: National Police Service Act, 2011, Section 28; Constitution of Kenya, 2010, Article 245

Practical Example

A businessman is defrauded of KES 2 million through a SIM swap scam. He reports to the DCI Financial Crimes Unit with bank records and M-Pesa statements. The DCI traces the suspects through mobile money records and arrests them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the DCI and the regular police in Kenya?
The regular police (Kenya Police Service) handle day-to-day law enforcement. The DCI focuses on complex investigations — serious crimes, cybercrime, fraud, corruption. Both are part of the National Police Service but operate under separate commands.
Can I report to the DCI if I have already reported to the police and nothing happened?
Yes. If your case involves serious crime, fraud, or cybercrime, you can report directly to the relevant DCI unit even if you have already filed a police report.

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