This archive report was first published on 30 August 2019.
Kenya's government has taken a significant step towards resolving long-standing murder cases by acquiring a state-of-the-art 3500xL Genetic Analyzer. The equipment, which was unveiled on Thursday at the Government Chemist in Nairobi, can analyze DNA samples in just 45 minutes.
According to officials, the analyzer has enhanced the laboratory's capacity by thirty percent, allowing it to expeditiously analyze several DNA samples on evidential material collected from crime scenes.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi, who launched the new equipment, said the Chemist now has the capacity to serve Kenya and the region. He added that the government plans to establish another branch that will serve the Northern region of the country.
"We have been trying to find the best solutions to our challenges in the criminal investigation. It is no secret that we have some fairly sensitive but unresolved murder cases in our country and the acquisition of this machine is one of the first steps towards the achievement of our objectives in this field," Matiangi said.
The Government Chemist was moved to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government in October last year as part of the government's efforts to reform the criminal justice system.
