The Directorate of Criminal Investigations hosted the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Mr Christopher Asher Wray at Mazingira Complex headquarters.

This was Mr Asher’s maiden tour to the country since his appointment as FBI chief in 2017.

During his four-day trip, Director Wray met with high ranking government officials and several national security and law enforcement heads in the country, holding meetings that focused on strengthening bilateral security and investigative cooperation.

In an exclusive meeting held with selected Heads of Directorates at DCI HQs, the eighth Director of the FBI lauded the existing partnerships with the country’s topmost criminal investigation agency, highlighting key successes in counterterrorism and transnational organized crimes.

Director Wray further reaffirmed FBI’s commitment to cooperation with stakeholders in adopting modern-day pragmatic measures pertinent to disrupting global threats.

Money laundering (wash wash)

The FBI is also assisting Kenya’s DCI in probing high-profile money laundering cases (wash wash) and gold scams targeting foreigners.

“Organised crime is one of the threats that ignore borders, is very transnational in nature and takes different forms. Some of our partners like the Drug Enforcement Agency have been collaborating with agencies here in fight against drug trafficking. We (FBI) always try to follow the money to fight laundering but human trafficking is obviously one of the worst kinds of threats we tackle since it impacts children. We have been hosting trainings and sharing expertise to help tackle the threat and we are looking to do more,” Mr Wray answered one of the journalists.

Anti-terrorism tactics

On the joint Terrorism Taskforce, the FBI boss had this to say…

“We have been working with the DCI to bring together partners in and around this region to talk about threats we are all seeing and share lessons. We are also sharing new ways of collaboration to combat terrorism. Part of the reason for my visit, is to say thank you for the outstanding collaboration with the DCI and other agencies.”

On the fight against corruption, the FBI boss said this…

Corruption

“Investigating corruption has been at the heart of FBI mission for many decades and is among the biggest threats that we investigate because corruption strikes at the heart of the rule of law and public confidence in government institutions. It involves wealthy and powerful individuals and our biggest task is to demonstrate to citizens in any free society that they can have trust in the institutions by investigating those offences. We look forward to collaborating with DCI on that front.”

Meanwhile, the host Director DCI Mr Mohamed I. Amin conveyed his appreciation to his guest and the US government, for the immense support the Directorate has continued to receive through sponsored trainings locally and abroad, donation of state-of-the-art equipment and enhanced information sharing networks.

Mr Amin noted that as a result, the DCI had managed to greatly suppress highly complex criminal activities, built its capacity and earned the confidence of Kenyans in its capacity to combat all manner of crime.

The two directors also responded to questions on national and international issues raised by members of the fourth estate.

Director Wray’s delegation comprised other dignitaries from FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC and the US Embassy in Nairobi.