The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has denied reports claiming that it has been conducting surveillance on mobile phones and other digital devices through spyware.
In a statement, the agency termed the claims made by Daily Nation’s articles misleading and intended to undermine the integrity of the investigating agency.
The article alleged that the detectives planted spy software on the devices used by Activist Bryan Adagala to track his communications and his other digital operations.
DCI Clears Air on Alleged Surveillance of Mobile Phones. Photo: Courtesy.
It further claimed that the software was installed on the device of Adagala, one of the Blood Parliament filmmakers, on May 21, at 5:17 pm, when it was confiscated by the police.
The device was later returned to him on July 10, with the article disclosing that the spyware tool is one that anyone can purchase and easily install on certain devices to which they have physical access.
On its side, DCI officers assured Kenyans of their public and private safety, further emphasising that they operate strictly within the confines of the law.
According to the detectives, they are committed to upholding the rights and privacy of all Kenyans, adding that they do not engage in any activities that compromise the constitutional principles of privacy.
This omes two days after advocate Ian Mutiso, who represents four filmmakers, claimed that the DCI had installed spyware on his clients’ devices following their arrest over the BBC Blood Parliament documentary.
On September 10, Mutiso said an independent forensic analysis by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab confirmed that surveillance software had been implanted on the filmmakers’ electronic devices while they were in police custody.
He further revealed that after the gadgets were returned on July 10, 2025, he engaged Citizen Lab to conduct the forensic examination.
