Nairobi, Kenya- International Justice Mission (IJM) Kenya brought together communication officers from across the criminal justice system and media practitioners for a high-level gala dinner at the Sarova Stanley Hotel, creating space to take stock of 2025’s progress while confronting the challenges that still lie ahead.
The event convened members of the Inter-Agency Communications (IAC) team, drawing representation from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Judiciary, National Police Service (NPS), Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Witness Protection Agency, alongside leading journalists.
Rather than operating in silos, speakers underscored the importance of a justice system that functions as a single, coordinated ecosystem.
Inter-agency collaboration was described as the backbone of meaningful justice, with speakers noting that effective communication across institutions helps ensure accountability is felt beyond policy documents and courtrooms.
IJM Kenya Country Director Vincent Chahale praised communication officers and the media for their role in advancing justice narratives throughout the year, reaffirming IJM’s commitment to deepening partnerships in 2026 and beyond.
Representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, ODPP Head of Communication David Shikami highlighted the impact of IJM-supported capacity-building initiatives, particularly trainings held in Mombasa and Maanzoni.
He said the programmes had strengthened technical skills, professional networks, and collaboration within the prosecution service. Addressing journalists, Shikami urged responsible, factual reporting, especially in sensitive criminal justice cases.
Reflections from the evening pointed to a year marked by innovation and professional growth.
Participants cited AI-focused trainings for government agencies and security-focused workshops for journalists as key milestones in improving accountability and modernising public communication.
Officials from the Administration Police Service and the NPS noted that these engagements had helped reinforce professional standards and transparency.
The Internal Affairs Unit reiterated its focus on justice and officer welfare, while Nation Media Group’s Sam Kiplagat observed a more mature relationship between the media and state institutions—one that allows for firm scrutiny without breaking dialogue, even when agencies are challenged in court or public discourse.
Looking ahead, Parliamentary Journalists Association President Moses Ogada pointed to IJM’s growing engagement with Parliament, particularly on accountability and cases of enforced disappearances.
The evening closed with remarks from the Witness Protection Agency, crediting inter-agency cooperation for rising public confidence.
IJM’s Joseph Kariuki summed up the mood, saying the strengthened IAC framework has improved the flow and reliability of information to the public, helping ensure that justice is experienced not as a slogan, but as a lived reality.
