The Budget and Appropriations Committee has approved Ksh 150 million for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to acquire and operate Optimus 3.0, a social media tracking system. This funding is part of a national security modernization effort aimed at improving surveillance and combating cyber-related crimes.
Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi, who chairs the committee, allocated Ksh 50 million for procuring Optimus 3.0 equipment and Ksh 100 million for its operation and maintenance at the DCI Forensic Lab. The system can track social media users, identify posts, trace locations, and link digital activity to devices. Lawmakers believe it will help law enforcement fight misinformation, cybercrime, and online threats.
Security agencies support the investment, but critics worry about privacy violations. Human rights advocates argue that, if misused, the technology could infringe on citizens’ rights. Nairobi-based lawyer James Kilonzo voiced concerns over prioritizing surveillance over social welfare. To accommodate the budget increase, the government cut Ksh 400 million from the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya.
The approval comes alongside broader security funding increases. The National Police Service will receive an additional Ksh 1.8 billion, including Ksh 800 million for police operations under the Inspector General’s Office. The Ministry of Defence has secured Ksh 13 billion—its largest budget allocation in history.
Despite concerns, the government insists that Optimus 3.0 will boost national security while safeguarding civil liberties. Officials assure the public that the system will be strictly used for crime prevention and intelligence gathering, complying with legal frameworks.
