The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has unveiled its latest crime management kit consisting of body cameras that will be used in the line of duty.
According to a statement released by the law enforcement unit on April Fools day, the high-definition body cams have infrared, night vision, and live streaming capabilities. Detectives will therefore be able to showcase real-time action in their delivery of service.
According to the DCI, the acquisition of the kits follows overwhelming requests from Kenyans on social media. A section of Kenyans have lauded the step, saying all officers should wear cameras in a country where police brutality is rampant.
Crime management body cameras are common among officers in Western countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, China, France Germany. South Africa also adopted the practice by equipping a section of traffic police officers with body cams in 2021.
Do you think body cams will be effective in Kenya? Here are some reactions from Kenyans:
The importance of body cameras is to enhance police accountability not to show how to tackle criminals. Tackling criminals is what you are trained to do. No one wants to see you doing it because that's your job. We want to see why people are shot in police custody.
— Lucas Akhulunya (@lucasakhulunya) April 1, 2022
Should the DCI be the ones to acquire this??? traffic n patrol officers ndio wanafaa kuwa nazo ama
— mwahu (@vinsvns) April 1, 2022
Do they have inbuilt geolocation? What legal and policy framework governs their use in terms of evidential value of the footage, allocation and switching on or off?
Without the above, they are nothing but avenues to loot and hoodwink the masses that they can trust you.
— Kimani Kariuki (@Its_Kimani) April 1, 2022
Tunajua Leo ni fools day
— Bill Mkenya 🕙 (@Bill_mkenya) April 1, 2022
