Multidisciplinary approach towards training of the next generation of forensic DNA analysts in Africa; a Kenyan perspective

Eva Aluvaala Nambati; Muturi Njoka; Fred Eyase; Janet Majanja; Naomi Njuguna; Sophie M Gitonga; Nicholas Mwikwabe; Eric Lelo; Milka Mwangi; Allan Kingoro; Francis Kimani; Kizito Lubano; Wallace Bulimo

doi:10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.03.003

Multidisciplinary approach towards training of the next generation of forensic DNA analysts in Africa; a Kenyan perspective

Forensic Sci Int Synerg. 2020 Mar 31:2:123-125. doi: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.03.003. eCollection 2020.

Affiliations

¹ Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kenya.
² University of Nairobi, Kenya.
³ Biotech Forensics, Kenya.

Abstract

The uptake of forensic DNA testing technologies in Africa has been slow despite the revolutionary technology being discovered and adopted 3 decades ago. African governments and partners have invested in construction and equipping of forensic laboratories in Africa but the benefits are yet to be realised as the laboratories are still faced with the challenge of shortage of adequately trained personnel. This paper describes an innovative multidisciplinary training approach that was developed and used to train officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Kenya. We report on the structure, implementation and effectiveness of the training. It is expected that with the increased number of trained forensic DNA analysts, there will be an improvement in quality of forensic DNA evidence presented in courts and a reduction in backlog in the forensic biology laboratories in Kenya.

Keywords: DNA; Forensics; Serology; Skills; Training.