INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE OF FRAUD INVESTIGATORS AT DIRECTORATE OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, KENYA
INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE OF FRAUD INVESTIGATORS AT DIRECTORATE OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, KENYA
Mutoka Dennis - Student, Master of Arts Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Prof. Minja David - Department of Public Policy and Administration, School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Fraud entails the deliberate misappropriation the organizational resources for personal benefit using one’s occupation. The action is deliberate is characterized by concealment, violation of trust, and deception with the aim of embezzling the resources of an organization for personal gains. Fraud investigation entails the process of evidence collection and examination with regard to the alleged or suspected fraud to establish whether fraud, theft, or deception occurred. The study sought to establish the effect of ICT in collecting evidence on fraud investigators performance, and the effect of ICT in examining evidence on the performance of fraud investigators within the DCI, Kenya. The theories guiding the study included the theory of reasoned action, diffusion of innovation theory, and technology acceptance model. The investigation adopted a descriptive research design with a target population involving the Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers working at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters in Kiambu Road Nairobi totaling 565 respondents. Probability sampling was used in selecting a sample while stratified sampling was used to select respondents from various units. Primary data was adopted and was collected using structured questionnaires. SPSS version 26 was utilized in data analysis, which included both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive results involved frequency and percentages. Inferential analysis entailed correlation and regression analysis. The study found that the integration of ICT in the collection of fraud evidence has a significant and positive effect on the performance of fraud investigators with a beta level of 0.47 and a significance level of 0.000<0.05. Furthermore, the integration of ICT in the examination of fraud evidence has a significant and positive effect on the performance of fraud investigators with a beta level of 0.418 and a significance level of 0.000<0.05. The study thus concluded that the integration of ICT in fraud evidence collection, examination, processing, and preservation has a positive and significant effect on the performance of fraud investigators. The study recommended that the DCI ought to fully adopt ICT in its process of collecting fraud in various departments. As technology advances, so are fraudsters. The adoption of ICT should be included in the process of fraud evidence collection by making it easy for witnesses and suspects to record statements. The DCI should also utilize ICT in the examination of fraud evidence collected.
