Following recent moves to harmonise cybercrime legislation in the South and East of Africa, the police forces of East African states have joined forces to create a special cybercrime laboratory. The move was proposed by Kenya's chief of police at a recent meeting of the East Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) in Kampala, Uganda. The laboratory will be based in Kenya, and is already being prepared for use by police forces of East Africa.

According to Major General Mohammed Hussein Ali, Kenya's Commissioner of Police, the new cyber-laboratory will serve as an important tool in the fight against technological crime. He said "We are developing this laboratory because the ICT industry is so advanced that police has failed to catch up with the progress." It is hoped that the new initiative will help Kenya and nine other member-countries of the EAPCCO to advance their efforts in curbing cybercrime in the region.

The Kenya police initiative seems to form part of a concerted effort by East African nations. Back in May it was announced that the East Africa region has moved to introduce cybercrime legislation following the lead of the South African Development Community (SADC). This new legislation will allow prosecuting cybercriminals who have committed crimes in other countries within the region. Full law harmonisation is expected to be achieved by the end of 2007, given that many countries in East and Southern Africa have not introduced cybercrime legislation yet.