The National Criminal Investigations Academy (NCIA) has been admitted into the Interpol Global Academy Network.
The admission was formalised at a signing ceremony held on Friday at Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France.
The ceremony was attended by Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin, who reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening investigative capacity and international partnerships in response to increasingly complex security threats.
Speaking in his capacity as Africa’s delegate to the Interpol Executive Committee, Amin described the admission as “not a ceremonial gesture,” but a deliberate affirmation of Kenya’s readiness to contribute to and learn from the global community of police training institutions.
He said criminal threats had changed significantly, with cybercrime, terrorism, narcotics trafficking, financial crime, human trafficking and environmental crime increasingly driven by networks operating across national borders.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza underscored the importance of strengthening global law enforcement cooperation through professional training, knowledge exchange and the development of investigative capacity.
Membership of the network offers NCIA trainers opportunities to learn from leading institutions, exposes investigators to international best practices and facilitates professional exchanges, joint curriculum development and collaborative research.
These opportunities are expected to support the academy’s vision of becoming a centre of excellence in criminal investigations training, professional development and innovation.
Kenya joins the network as a contributor as well as a recipient of expertise.
Drawing on the country’s operational experience in countering terrorism, dismantling organised crime networks, disrupting narcotics trafficking, investigating cybercrime and combating human trafficking, NCIA will consolidate and share Kenya’s expertise with the wider network.
The academy will also pursue joint training and capacity-building initiatives, particularly those benefiting Eastern Africa and the wider African continent.
Amin said the admission marked the beginning of a more demanding phase for the academy, requiring stronger instructional capacity and modernised curricula that respond to emerging criminal threats.
He also expressed Kenya’s gratitude to Interpol, its secretary general and the Global Academy team for assessing the application and expressing confidence in NCIA.
On behalf of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the National Police Service, Amin reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to making the partnership practical, measurable and enduring.
The DCI has been advancing initiatives aimed at addressing changing forms of crime.