Anti Human Trafficking And Child Protection Unit
The Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit (AHTCPU) is a specialist unit under the Directorate of Criminal Investigations committed to the personal safety of all children. Its goal is to reduce sexual abuse and exploitation of children and prevent child victimization.
The idea for the dedicated unit was first conceptualized between 2012 and 2015 when staff from the UK National Crime Agency – Child Exploitation Online Protection (NCA-CEOP) were deployed to Kenya to gather evidence in support of extra-territorial prosecution of UK citizens who were facing charges of sexual offences against vulnerable Kenyan children. In response to challenges in dealing with these complex cases, the NCA-CEOP carried out a needs assessment and initiated discussions with the Kenya National Police Service on the concept of the creating a dedicated Child Protection Unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Towards the end of 2015, the DCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NCA-CEOP to create a dedicated Child Protection Unit in Kenya, the first of its kind in the East African Region.
In March 2016, twelve officers drawn from different sections within the DCI and with varied expertise received specialized training on protection of children facilitated by (UK) NCA trainers and thereafter started carrying out tasks within the unit. The unit became fully operational on the 18th April 2016. Since then, the AHTCPU has been active in prevention and response to cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation throughout the country. The AHTCPU’s capacity has been gradually strengthened through the appointment of additional officers and provision of training, equipment, and logistical support with the assistance of the British High Commission, UNODC, UNICEF and other development partners. In March 2020, the AHTCPU established a second office in Mombasa to help protect more vulnerable children from sexual predators and traffickers operating along the Kenyan Coast. The AHTCPU now has 37 officers (27 in Nairobi and 10 in Mombasa), including fifteen female officers.
To strengthen the AHTCPU’s capacity to combat online child exploitation and abuse, the unit has established a forensic section specialised in online CSEA investigations with a dedicated link to Interpol’s International Child Exploitation (ICSE) Database - a first one in Africa. It was officially launched on the 25th March 2019 and staffed with specialized cyber experts who work with the International Victim Identification Network to identify children depicted in child exploitation imagery and videos. AHTCPU is also supported by DCI’s Digital Forensic Lab, which is staffed with specialized cyber experts who conduct forensic analysis of digital devices and networks. In addition, through a three-way agreement between NCMEC, DCI and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the AHTCPU installed Virtual Private Network (VPN) in April 2019, giving a direct secure link to the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which disseminates daily "cyber tips”. AHTCPU is the first recognised law enforcement unit in East Africa to be a direct NCMEC recipient. Most recently, in January 2021 the AHTCPU entered into a partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to launch the first ever dedicated portal for law enforcement in Kenya to report suspected online images and videos of child sexual abuse to expert IWF analysts.
Our mandate is to:
- Carry out investigations on cases of child sexual exploitation and abuse in Kenya.
- Offer specialized advise/training to police officers working at child protection desks at the police stations and other stakeholders all over the country.
- Review complex cases on crimes against children forwarded from both the DCI and police stations
- Coordinate with INTERPOL and other International Law enforcement authorities on crimes against children.
- Conduct victim identification and rescue missions.
- Investigate child trafficking cases in Kenya and beyond
- Carry further investigations on cases referred by the office of the director of public prosecutions (ODPP) Kenya.
Professionalism:
All staff uphold and demonstrate high levels of expertise and competence. We encourage creativity and champion innovative approaches to investigations and protection of children. Entrenched in our team is a collection of traits when put together make up an exceptional employee and in turn, a successful Unit. These traits include reliability, competence, dependability, respect, and nobility.
Respect for diversity:
We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of all persons. Our commitment is to work effectively with people from all backgrounds without any discrimination, treating them with respect and showing reverence for diverse points of view while examining our own biases and behaviours.
Integrity:
Honesty and strong moral principles unify us as an undivided team. We demonstrate the values of Unit without consideration of personal gain. We resist undue pressure and stand by decisions in the Childs’ best interest. We are careful not to abuse power or authority
Teamwork:
We work collaboratively with colleagues and impetrate input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas. All staff place team agenda before personal agenda and support group decisions. We have shared credit and joint responsibility for shortcomings.
The best interest of the child will be the primary consideration in all actions taken and decisions made in relation to an investigation, and the safety and well-being of the child always takes priority.
Child participation:
Children have the right to be actively involved in all aspects of decision-making about their protection and should be empowered through the process. It is important for children to have a say in decisions that affect their lives, and any child old enough to express him/herself will be given the opportunity, in an age-appropriate way, to give their views about what will happen. This means children will be provided information and explanations in simple language, and their views sought and given due weight, having regard to their age and level of maturity.
Do no harm:
at all times, we will avoid exposing children to additional risks and will take steps to mitigate potential negative impact of our actions on children. This includes taking measures throughout the investigation to respect the child’s dignity, protect his/her well-being, and prevent secondary victimization.
Non – discrimination:
All children have equal right to protection, without discrimination on any grounds, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, age, disability, ethnicity or any other differentiating feature. Services will be offered equally, without judgement or bias.
The DCI-AHTCPU head office is premised at the DCI Academy in South “C” within Nairobi county.
Mombasa branch is located at the coast Regional Police headquaters covering the coastal region
Expansion plan to other region is on course.
Investigations of Crimes Against Children
- we handle Crimes Against Children (CAC ) and protect children from any form of child exploitation and abuse through investigations, intelligence gathering. The abuses are physical or sexual abuse, neglect, child trafficking and child stealing for offline abuses. We are also combating technology facilitated crimes against children including cyber-bullying, sextortion, child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online grooming among others.
Victim identification
- Victim Identification (VID) is a very crucial aspect of tackling Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA). The DCI-AHTCPU experts use advanced digital forensics tools and techniques to analyze images and videos depicting children being abused or that might contain evidence of child sexual abuse.
Child Online Protection
- We work closely with the tech industries and Internet Service Providers to pull down reported domains, or web addresses, to block in their networks.
Victim Support
- We rescue victims of child exploitation and abuse and place them in safe custody. With support of Directorate of Children Services, we identify partners provide interventions available for child victims. They include diagnostic and treatment programs, therapeutic counselling services, child protection services, foster care, residential centers and reintegration.
Coordination –
as a specialized unit, we take a lead in child protection by taking up complex cases or overseeing the process and details of how complex cases are handled within the country as well as giving the guidance to our colleagues in National Police Service on children matters. We also work with child protection partners across Kenya and oversees to identify the main threats to children and coordinates activity against these threats to bring offenders to account.
Education
- We aim to ensure that everyone has access to practical information- children, parents and professionals who work with them. We work together with partners to help in raising awareness and enlightening public on risks that children face online, where to get help, preventive measures and intervention to take in case of abuse.
Research
- Research on emerging trends of crimes against children is crucial for understanding evolving threats and developing effective prevention, intervention and response strategies. We are therefore conducting research and monitor the emerging trends in crimes against children in collaboration with other national and international partners to ensure safety of children for a secure future.
Fichua kwa DCI hotline – 0800722203 (anonymous).
You can also call Child help line 116
To report a website or a post, use the link Internet Watch Foundation reporting portal By Clicking Here
AHTCPU investigation priorities are centered around ensuring the welfare of children and holding accountable those who endanger or exploit them.
The unit's primary goals are to prevent child abuse, protect children from harm, and bring perpetrators to justice.
Investigative priorities
- Online Exploitation: Monitoring and investigating cases involving the online exploitation of children, including online grooming, sexting, and the distribution of child pornography.
- Child Trafficking and Abduction: Investigating cases of child trafficking, both within the country and across borders, as well as cases of child abduction or child stealing.
- Child Sexual Exploitation: Targeting individuals involved in the sexual exploitation of children, whether through prostitution, human trafficking, or the production and distribution of explicit materials involving minors.
- Missing Children: Prioritizing cases involving missing or abducted children, working swiftly to locate them and ensure their safe return to their families
Strategic initiatives
- Preventive Measures: Developing and implementing educational programs and initiatives aimed at preventing child abuse, exploitation, and other forms of harm.
- Partnerships and Collaboration: Collaborating with other law enforcement agencies, child protective services, non-governmental organizations, and international agencies to effectively address child protection issues.
- Training and Education: Providing specialized training for law enforcement officers on child protection laws, investigative techniques, and child psychology to enhance their capabilities in handling cases involving children.
We engage the public and local communities to build trust and raise awareness about the emerging trends of crimes against child and also educating them on the importance of reporting children matters, how to properly report suspicious activities and Online Child Sexual Abuse related cases.
DCI -AHTCPU plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and well-being of children in Kenya by focusing on investigative priorities.
SUPASTAZ is a film highlighting child trafficking in Kenya. Produced by Krysteen Savane and funded by the German Government through GIZ in partnership with the DCI Anti Human Trafficking & Child Protection Unit.
Det. Lawrence Okoth,HSC of DCI Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Protection Unit, at Spice FM talk show, highlighting the role of DCI in tackling Online Crimes Against Children.
