Kenya could finally be solving the puzzle of sophisticated crimes, according to the DCI after he received a team of highly qualified Forensic Serology & DNA Analysis who will help DCI officers.
Types of Cases this could solve.
After an evening of hanging out with friends, a 20-year-old woman decided to get a ride home with her ex-boyfriend. They had broken up several months before but had remained friendly with each other. During the drive, the young man started talking about how they should get back together because he missed the relationship they once had. However, she was not interested and wanted to remain friends.
Only blocks from her home, the man stopped the car and suddenly turned violent. Grabbing her neck, he began to force himself on her. As he ripped off her clothes, she managed to grab a small pocket knife from her purse, but he took the knife from her and broke it. He then dragged her by the legs out of the car and raped her in a nearby wooded area. Afterwards, he stole her credit cards and drove away. The woman managed to walk to her home and called the police to report the rape. She was brought to the hospital, where she was interviewed, photographed, and examined for several hours. Evidence was collected for a sexual assault kit (SAK).
To many, this would seem like a clear-cut case of sexual assault. However, a case is not determined by what one believes, but rather by what the investigation shows and what can be proved.
When the police spoke with the young man, he described a very different series of events. He claimed that he and his ex-girlfriend had a fun evening at the party and that she came on to him and wanted to get back together. He admitted to taking some drugs that evening and thought he blacked out briefly. When he woke up, he claimed that his ex-girlfriend was on top of him and they had consensual rough sex. He said their clothes were everywhere, and he must have accidently taken her credit cards when he gathered his things. He denied ever handling a knife.
So what really happened that evening? In a case like this of “he said, she said,” investigators look to the forensic evidence to help them piece together what may have actually happened. The investigation and exploration of the totality of the evidence collected are critical to unravelling the allegations and discerning whether charges can be filed.
The training on Forensic Serology and DNA Analysis conducted by KEMRI was officially launched by DCI boss GeorgeKinoti on 28th June 2018. The training program exposed the officers to court procedures and skills necessary for effective expert witness testimony.
Forensic serology is the detection, identification, classification, and study of various bodily fluids such as blood, semen, saliva, urine, breast milk, vomit, fecal matter and perspiration, and their relationship to a crime scene.
“ We commend the DCI leadership for choosing to work with @KEMRI_Kenya.It is your steadfast faith in leveraging on the strengths of the institute that we celebrate the graduation of these officers now skilled in theoretical & practical aspects of forensic Serology & DNA analysis” pic.twitter.com/BQ9jxAbYfV— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) April 11, 2019