DCI to Get Ksh.150M for Optimus 3.0 Social Media Tracking System
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is poised to strengthen its digital surveillance capabilities. This follows a proposal by the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee, which seeks to allocate Ksh.150 million for the Optimus 3.0 social media tracking system.
According to the 2025/2026 Budget Committee report, the plan sets aside Ksh.50 million for acquiring the system and another Ksh.100 million for its operational expenses under the DCI’s forensic lab.
What Is Optimus 3.0 and What Can It Do?
The Optimus 3.0 system offers cutting-edge forensic tools that help law enforcement monitor digital activity. With its advanced tracking features, the system supports investigations into:
- Cybercrime and digital fraud
- Hate speech and incitement
- Online harassment and misinformation
Optimus 3.0 empowers investigators to:
- Monitor posts across Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok
- Identify users using device IDs, IP addresses, and location tags
- Extract metadata such as timestamps, origin, and digital fingerprints
- Detect behavioral patterns and link online identities
By mapping who is posting what, when, and from which device, investigators can more effectively follow digital trails and build evidence.
Why Experts Urge Caution
Although authorities argue that the system enhances public safety, privacy advocates remain wary. Rights groups like ARTICLE 19 and Amnesty International Kenya have warned against surveillance tools that lack oversight.
They raise three key concerns:
- Government agencies may use the system without public transparency.
- It could be misused to monitor activists, journalists, or political critics.
- Kenya’s enforcement of the Data Protection Act (2019) remains weak.
To address these risks, experts recommend:
- Enacting clear legal frameworks on how surveillance tools operate
- Ensuring independent audits and parliamentary oversight
- Publishing regular transparency reports
“These tools should protect citizens, not silence them,” said a digital rights researcher at CIPIT, a think tank based at Strathmore University.
A Test for Kenya’s Digital Future
Kenya’s push to modernize its forensic and policing infrastructure continues to gain momentum. The Optimus 3.0 social media tracking system may play a pivotal role in fighting cybercrime and online abuse.
However, without proper regulation, this powerful technology could erode public trust. Therefore, lawmakers must weigh the benefits of security against the risks of surveillance abuse.
The conversation is now in Parliament’s hands—but the public must remain engaged in shaping the outcome.
