DCI, UK STRENGTHEN JOINT FIGHT AGAINST ORGANISED IMMIGRATION CRIME IN MOYALE
By Hassan Amin Reporter
MOYALE, MARSABIT COUNTY — September 28, 2026
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling organised immigration crime networks operating along Kenya’s border with Ethiopia, following a high-level Counter Organised Immigration Crimes Team (COICT) engagement in Moyale.
The engagement brought together senior officers from the National Police Service, partner agencies, community leaders and a delegation from the United Kingdom led by Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr. Ed Barnett MBE.
The Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed I. Amin, CBS, OGW, “ndc” (K), was represented by the Commandant of the National Criminal Investigations Academy (NCIA), Ibrahim Jillo, AIG.
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In remarks delivered on his behalf, Amin described Moyale as a strategic border town and an important gateway for legitimate trade, social interaction and economic opportunities.
He, however, warned that criminal networks can exploit legitimate cross-border movement to facilitate organised immigration-related offences.
The establishment of COICT, he said, represents a deliberate shift from responding to isolated immigration offences to identifying, investigating and disrupting the wider criminal networks behind such activities.
“COICT is a deliberate initiative aimed at enhancing our ability to identify, investigate and disrupt organised immigration crime,” Amin said.»
The DCI Director also called for stronger coordination among security and law-enforcement agencies operating along the border, noting that organised criminal groups often operate through interconnected networks and therefore require equally coordinated investigations.
He urged COICT officers to maintain professionalism, integrity and accountability, stressing that public trust remains essential to effective investigations.
Amin further appealed to residents of Moyale to support law-enforcement agencies by providing information on suspicious activities that could assist investigators in disrupting organised criminal networks.
On his part, Dr. Ed Barnett commended the growing cooperation between Kenya and the United Kingdom in combating organised immigration crime.
He said the partnership would continue supporting human-rights-based approaches, including assistance to victims of immigration-related crimes, while strengthening investigations targeting wider criminal networks operating across borders.
The British High Commissioner further reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting the DCI and partner agencies in identifying, investigating and disrupting syndicates that exploit vulnerable people for financial gain.
Also present were the Director of Training and Research at the Administration Police Service, Madam Bianca Nzioki, representing the Deputy Inspector General of the APS; DCI Deputy Director, Investigation Bureau, George Kisaka; and other senior security and law-enforcement officials.
The engagement concluded with an inspection of newly constructed facilities designated for COICT officers. The facilities are expected to enhance operational efficiency and coordination in the fight against organised immigration crime along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
The DCI said continued engagement with the Moyale community will remain an important component of efforts to strengthen border security while protecting legitimate cross-border movement and economic activity.
