NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 16- The UK has donated a Sh4.5 million forensic medical equipment to be used in the investigations of terror attacks resulting in serious injuries and deaths.
According to British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, the forensic equipment will be vital in the investigation and eventual prosecution and includes a mobile mortuary and post-mortem equipment.
This will enable prompt investigations both at the scene of the attack and even in the hospitals and mortuaries.
Marriot said the equipment will increase the capacity of the Pathology and Forensic Unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), improve disaster response and support forensic investigations.
“The medical equipment will preserve and analyse crucial evidence needed to identify and convict terrorist offenders, bringing them.to justice,” she said.
“It will also help identify disaster victims and preserve their dignity, to prevent further suffering for grieving families,” she added.
Among the items donated include a portable Mortuary fridge, 24 slats for the mortuary table, 6 mortuary tables, 6 aluminium stepladders, 15 collapsible tables, 20 folding chairs, and 300 body bags among others.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji said that while law enforcement agencies were involved in the collection of evidence, be it physical or digital, it was forensic science that deals with the analysis of those evidence in order to establish facts admissible in the court of law.
“The duties and responsibilities of a forensic expert in a criminal investigation is crucial as it involves the careful examination of evidence while ensuring that it is not tampered with,” Haji said.
Forensic evidence fulfills several roles in criminal investigations by proving that a crime has been committed, placing the suspect in contact with the victim or the crime scene and even establishing the identity of the persons associated with the crime.
“Forensic evidence also helps in exonerating the innocent, corroborating a victim’s testimony and assist in establishing the facts of what occurred,” Haji said.
The High Commissioner said the UK stood with Kenya in this fight against terrorism, and invested approximately Sh1billion a year in counterterrorism efforts in Kenya.
“This ranges from building the capacity of the Criminal justice institutions through training and mentoring, to reinforcing Kenya’s ICT infrastructure such as through security installations investments at the Kahawa Law Court, Kenya’s first court dedicated to addressing terrorism,” she said.
She added that the UK was also supporting the construction of the new Coastal headquarters for the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) which will be completed this year, 2022.
DPP Haji noted the expertise of the forensic crime scene investigator is of paramount importance to the successful conduct of serious criminal investigations.
The DPP notes that a number of issues including contamination, secondary transfer, cognitive bias, statistical manipulation, misinterpretation, analysis errors, testimony beyond the limit of science were some of the challenges of investigating such attacks and crime in general.
According to the Commission, the UK’s counterterrorism support to Kenya is wide-ranging.
“We have, for example, also reduced the vulnerability to radicalisation of 300 at-risk Kenyans through engagement with communities and civil society organisations,” she said.
The UK has been actively involved in supporting security operations in the country.
The British High Commission through UK’s National Crime Agency last year complimented its support to the DCI Call Centre, through a donation of digital display screens. The screens are instrumental in the monitoring and analysis of information received.
The Ministry of Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr. Rashid Aman who also attended the handing over ceremony said the donated equipment will go a long way in supporting forensic investigations in instances of mass casualties, including those due to terror-related activities and disasters.
He added that public health and safety was multi-sectoral and therefore calls for a whole of government and society approach.
“The Ministry of Health is committed to progressively improve the forensic medical services that we are offering, especially in the management of victims and bodies due to mass casualties and terror-related activities while observing respect and dignity of the deceased persons, and their loved ones,” Dr Aman said.
The CAS also lauded the UK for supporting the health sector and the new initiatives in the areas of Kenya-United Kingdom Health Alliance, health labour migration, global health security and response to COVID-19 pandemic among others.
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