NAIROBI, Kenya — Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga on Tuesday hosted a delegation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to align priorities aimed at strengthening collaboration and advancing justice sector reforms in Kenya.
The UNODC delegation was led by Regional Representative Ali Elbereir, with the meeting also serving to formally introduce the newly appointed regional coordinator and review ongoing cooperation between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the UN agency.
According to the ODPP, discussions focused on enhancing existing partnerships and identifying new avenues for collaboration to improve the effectiveness of prosecutorial services across the country.
Ingonga expressed appreciation for UNODC’s continued support through the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery (PLEAD), noting that the initiative has strengthened prosecutorial capacity through targeted training, equipment provision, and logistical support.
Among the interventions highlighted was the facilitation of a boat to support prosecutorial activities in Lamu, as well as assistance in establishing county prosecution offices to improve access to justice at the grassroots level.
The talks also centred on aligning priority interventions for the year ahead, including defining targets and expected outcomes under the second phase of the programme, PLEAD II, to ensure measurable impact within the justice sector.
The PLEAD programme adopts a whole-of-justice-chain approach, bringing together institutions such as the Judiciary, National Police Service, and Probation and Aftercare Services, with the aim of strengthening coordination and efficiency.
Key focus areas include countering corruption, promoting integrity, supporting transition to technology-driven justice systems, and advancing inclusive justice mechanisms for children and vulnerable groups.
The initiative also seeks to integrate environmental sustainability in justice sector operations, ensure gender-responsive prosecutorial processes, and uphold human rights standards.
Officials further emphasised the importance of strengthening public trust through outreach, awareness, and engagement platforms such as Court Users Committees to enhance transparency and accountability.
The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment between the ODPP and UNODC to deepen cooperation and implement reforms aimed at improving service delivery, strengthening prosecutorial effectiveness, and promoting a more accessible and equitable justice system in Kenya.
