Kenya has witnessed the grand opening of the UK funded cyber centre at the Kenyan Police’s anti-human trafficking child protection unit in Nairobi.
The Child Protection Unit is the first one in Africa and will exclusively deal with culprits of child abuse and exploitation – Paedophiles, child traffickers and abusers.
The new wing, which was announced as part of a co-operation pact by Prime Minister Theresa May during her visit to Kenya last year, will support the investigators and other care specialists to tackle issues of serious child abuses in the country.
Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti who was also present says the opening of this unit is a major milestone in protecting children who are the future of this Country.
Dr Kinoti thanked the British High Commission in Kenya, UNODC and other development partners for their support and help in capacity building, mentorship and resource mobilization.
Further the unit will ensure that child abusers are monitored, culprits arrested and children rescued as it’s equipped with modern technology which will assist in collecting water tight evidence for successful investigations and prosecution of child abusers.
Speaking at the Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony, UK High Commissioner Nic Hailey pledged the support of the British government’s to track foreigners who abuse children in Kenya.
“I want to give assurance that even if children abusers come from my country I will work with my team to ensure they are put behind bars,” Mr Hailey said.
“Online child sex abuse is a global problem with images created and shared across the world, including in Kenya. This new centre will help the Kenyan authorities stop this vice and hence protect children from being ill-treated.
We will also work with the Kenya police to ensure that British paedophiles targeting and abusing vulnerable children in the country are brought to justice,” Hailey added.