DPP Ingonga during the meeting in Zambia on Sunday, August 17, 2025
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson
Ingonga, urged prosecutors across Africa to embrace innovation, technology, and
regional collaboration in the fight against evolving forms of crime.
He argued modern-day
prosecution demands more than just legal expertise.
Speaking during the Third Annual Prosecutors
Conference in Lusaka, Zambia, held under the theme “The Evolving Role of a
Prosecutor in a Complex World; Innovation and Sustainable Practice”, Ingonga
emphasised that 21st-century prosecutors must be equipped with both legal and
technological skills to effectively respond to complex crimes.
“As the global environment is evolving, so must
our approach to prosecution. The challenges we face do not just require legal
expertise but also strategic foresight,” Ingonga said.
He stressed that prosecutors are on the frontline
of safeguarding public trust while operating with limited resources.
As President of the Africa Prosecutors Association
and the Eastern Africa Association of Prosecutors, Ingonga highlighted the
organisation’s recent efforts in training prosecutors on transnational
organised crimes such as terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking,
cybercrime, and human trafficking.
He underscored
the urgent need for an effective regional mechanism to dismantle cross-border
criminal networks.
To address these challenges, Ingonga revealed that
Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has embraced
innovative strategies.
He mentioned
that his office has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Human
Trafficking Institute to provide specialized training to prosecutors,
established an Innovative Prosecutions Performance Framework Council to
encourage creative solutions against emerging crime trends as well as increased
use of forensic accounting, electronic data analysis, and prosecution-guided
investigations, which have led to convictions of high-profile corruption and
financial crime cases.
He added that ODPP Kenya has revamped its
Anti-Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Division to confront financial
crimes linked to cryptocurrency and illicit financial flows.
On child protection, the DPP described online
child sexual exploitation as “an urgent crisis of our digital age” and revealed
that Kenya has set up child-friendly interview rooms in its regional offices
and is leveraging digital forensic evidence and pre-recorded testimonies to
prosecute cases involving child pornography, trafficking, and online abuse.
He stressed that combating transnational crime
requires reinforced regional cooperation and stronger mutual legal assistance
frameworks, while ensuring prosecutions remain victim-centred and uphold
fundamental rights.
Beyond legal reforms, Ingonga called for attention
to the mental health and well-being of prosecutors, citing the high-pressure
nature of their work.
He disclosed
that the ODPP has embedded clinical officers within its structure and rolled
out wellness programs under its Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which have reduced
burnout and improved resilience among staff.
“As prosecutors, we must foster a culture where
mental wellness is treated with the same seriousness as case preparation.
Mental wellness is not a weakness but a strategy,” he noted.
The conference brought together prosecutors from
across the region to discuss emerging crime trends, best practices, and
innovations in prosecution.
