NAIROBI, Kenya — The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has trained 258 prosecutors in a specialised, trauma-informed approach to handling defilement cases, marking a major step in strengthening Kenya’s criminal justice response to sexual offences against children.
The training, conducted in cohorts across the country, aims to equip prosecutors with skills to engage sensitively with child victims while maintaining high standards of legal precision and integrity.
Speaking during the opening of Cohort 7, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Magdalene Ngalyuka, who delivered remarks on behalf of the DPP, said the programme reinforces the need for compassion and human rights–centred prosecution practices.
“This training empowers our prosecutors to handle defilement cases through a trauma-informed, human rights-centred approach. Every child deserves justice delivered with compassion and unwavering integrity,” she said.
The ODPP said the latest four-day programme includes sessions on:
- Context of prosecuting defilement in Kenya
- Understanding defilement and addressing knowledge gaps
- Legal frameworks and normative standards
- Trauma-informed prosecution approaches
- Applying trauma-informed evidence in court
Prosecutors will also examine the psychological impact of sexual violence on minors and learn how to reduce re-traumatisation during investigations and court processes.
The ODPP expressed gratitude to The Equality Effect, led by Dr. Fiona Sampson, for its longstanding partnership under the 160 Girls Project, a transformative initiative improving justice outcomes for victims of defilement.
Equality Effect Coordinator Kula Wako praised the collaboration, saying the specialised model will significantly boost the skills of prosecutors countrywide.
“A successful prosecution sends a strong message that there is an effective system protecting the rights of children. This model strengthens and reinforces accountability in handling defilement cases,” she said.
Wako also commended ODPP leadership for endorsing and implementing the 160 Girls Defilement Prosecution Curriculum, which forms the backbone of the new training approach.
The ODPP says the trauma-informed model will remain central to its long-term strategy to improve conviction rates, enhance child-sensitive procedures, and reinforce public confidence in the justice system’s handling of sexual violence cases.
The programme continues this week as more prosecutors undergo specialised capacity-building sessions.
