PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS IN KENYA

When Felix Mbuthia returned from Austria after three years of study and realized the huge, unaccounted-for sums of money missing from his company’s accounts, he immediately reported the matter to the nearest police post, stating that his wife was the prime suspect and the only suspect. The officers, however, shrugged it off as a “domestic issue that only requires a domestic solution and that it didn’t need to involve the police”. So he sought the help of a private investigator immediately. He looked for the best private investigator in Kenya “My younger brother told me that my wife of over 10 years was rumored to be having an affair, and that they were already building a house in the outskirts of Nairobi with her purposed to be lover.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS IN KENYA

Mbuthia hired an auditor to review the company’s accounts and discovered that the huge amounts of money had been deposited into his wife’s personal account secretly. He asked her for a breakdown of how she had spent the millions of shillings without his consent, but she could not provide an explanation,” he said. Then he used the desktop version of WhatAsapp to read his wife’s conversations with the man he suspects to be his lover. The conversations confirmed what he was afraid of. She had gradually and secretly transferred more than Sh12 million to him, and they were also building a new hotel in Tanzania apart from the house in the outskirts of Nairobi.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS IN KENYA

Mbuthia didn’t give up even when the police did not act on his case, A friend suggested to him that he hires a private investigator (PI), and linked him to one. Well, he didn’t recover all of his assets but managed to recover 80% of some of the property and also a car which had been stolen .The Private investigator further unearthed multiple cases that Mr Mbuthia’s wife and her lover had bought plots in various places in Nairobi to conceal their wealth. Due to the large amount of assets recovered he paid the Private investigators company Sh450,000 for the services and a Sh350,000 facilitation fee and was able to get a divorce and also hire a lawyer. Mr Felix Mbuthia is just one of the many Kenyans who have sought the services of a private investigator. City Spy Investigators conduct background checks on potential business partners so that you don’t get screwed up, do due diligence checks and forensic investigations, among other services.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS IN KENYA

Lately, according to a security analyst, more Kenyans are hiring private investigators to conduct infidelity checks, home surveillance, install secret cameras and voice recorders in their homes and offices. Private investigators deal mostly with marital infidelity and private companies’ internal investigations. Most of the cases Private investigators deal with are not necessarily criminal crimes, but mostly fall under civil laws, such as infidelity cases and may lead to divorce and break ups. The private investigators also assist with gathering evidence for ongoing civil cases and also internal investigations. It is inaccurate to say that failure by the National police service or even the DCI is leading people to run to Private investigators. It’s a gap in criminal law which leaves the civil sector with no investigative services. Kenyans seek the services of Private investigators mostly because the police have too many cases to handle and have limited resources. Kenyans turn to private investigators because numerous cases are reported to police stations but the force lack resources such as vehicles to conduct investigations as well as also time. Under section 25 of the Private Security (General) Regulations, 2019, states that, with the approval of the National Security Council, the Inspector-General of Police or even the Cabinet Secretary may require a private security service provider to cooperate with, in order to maintain law and order, among others. Public prosecutors are very good at their work, but are often frustrated by shoddy investigations done in a hurry, forcing many to withdraw cases. This leads to many Kenyans to seeking the services of Private investigators. Private investigators work with lawyers, pathologists and IT experts, depending on the nature of the investigation.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS IN KENYA AND FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS

Mr Mugo who started a private undercover investigative service in 2010 says his company charges between Sh50,000 and Sh500,000, depending on what is being investigated, the scope of investigation, the parties involved and the costs incurred by the firm. He works with different people during investigations, depending on the nature of crime or probe. “Sometimes finding information is hard, but depending on each case, you have to devise mechanisms of locating them. Sometimes ,” he says. Mr Mugo who once worked as a police officer says he receives numerous threats from those culpable of crimes, but he has learn to manage them through her own personal safety steps. So how do clients react when they finally get to know the truth? Mr Mugo says the most common reaction is usually shock. Another Private Investigator, David Makau says the most credible Private investigators are retired members of the disciplined forces. He himself is a fingerprints expert and worked with the forces for years. Their are several Private investigation agencies in Kenya. They are all required to be registered as stipulated by Section 28 Private Security Regulation Act which states, “A person shall not engage in the provision of private security services or offer private security services in Kenya at a fee unless that person is licensed by the Authority,” Some of the Private investigation companies charge between Sh50,000 and Sh1.5 million, depending on the services and scope of work.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS IN KENYA AND ILLEGAL IMPORTS

Mr Makau says Kenya recognizes Private Security Practitioners unlike in the past. People viewed them as snoopers and busybody spies but we have created systems for them to come out formally and legally,” he says The Private Security Regulatory Authority regulates Private Investigators. For anyone who wants to practice in Kenya must undergo vetting by a commission comprising officials of the Kenya Police Service, the Administration Police Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the National Intelligence Service. The vetting comprises tests to establish whether if the person understands the law, is not a fraud or he/she is capable of running a private investigation firm(their competency) and also check if they have any criminal records. They as well must have a clearance from the National intelligence service, have a security background and prove that they are familiar with the Criminal Procedure Code. They are then registered and licensed by the regulating body if they meet all the requirements as per Section 21 of the Private Security Regulatory Act.