The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have joined forces to promote human rights awareness among their respective officers.
In a meeting at the ODPP headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday DPP Renson Igonga and IPOA's chairperson Ann Makori agreed to work together to promote human rights awareness.
Both parties underscored that the sensitisation initiative aims to enhance justice and accountability.
They emphasised that a focus on human rights will expedite the handling of cases of public interest.
"There is significant importance in expediting cases, particularly those of public interest, to ensure justice is served," stated the institutions.
During their discussion, the two institutions addressed the necessity for providing training to IPOA officers regarding the evidentiary requirements for securing convictions.
They also reached an agreement on implementing standard operating procedures for the investigation and prosecution of serious human rights violations committed by police officers.
Previously, IPOA collaborated with the ODPP on a joint Rapid Response Initiative to investigate instances of police misconduct and to develop policy documents.
Meanwhile, police officers have reportedly been facing significant stress in their daily duties.
In an event which brought together ex-police officers in Kesogon, Nandi county, former police officers highlighted the absence of counselling services for police officers.
They said that this has resulted in tragic consequences, including suicides and even incidents involving killing their own families.
The group of ex-police officers, led by ex-Deputy Police Commissioner Jackson Kosgei, stressed the importance of providing proper guidance and counselling for officers, given the challenges they face in their line of duty.
"There are a lot of challenges faced by police officers. They kill themselves and sometimes they even kill their families," Kosgei said.
Kosgei urged the government to reinstate the traditional approach to administering counselling, emphasizing its value for the well-being of police officers.
''During our time, every Wednesday evening, we used to talk to police officers before they go to work," Kosgei added.
