DPP Launches Specialized Training to Strengthen Justice for Child Victims of Defilement

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, CBS, OGW, today opened a specialized training session for 30 prosecutors focused on enhancing the prosecution of defilement cases.

The initiative, supported by the 160 Girls Project, underscores the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (ODPP) commitment to delivering effective and efficient justice, particularly for child victims of sexual violence.

In his keynote address, DPP Ingonga emphasized the pivotal role prosecutors play in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). He noted that the training reflects the ODPP’s ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional responses to defilement and other SGBV-related offences, particularly those affecting the most vulnerable members of society.

“This training is not just a professional development exercise, it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to protect children and ensure they are heard and served with justice,” said the DPP. “As prosecutors, we are not just legal officers; we are human rights defenders for our nation’s most vulnerable, our children.”

The DPP highlighted that successful prosecutions depend heavily on the quality of investigations and the strength of the evidence presented in court. He urged continued collaboration with law enforcement to bolster the integrity of investigations and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.

“We must use the knowledge gained here to restore public confidence in our criminal justice system. Every child who suffers abuse deserves not only justice but dignity. Our duty is to ensure we do not re-traumatize victims through our processes,” Stated the DPP.

Kula Roba Wako, National Coordinator for Equality Effect, echoed these sentiments, stressing the transformative potential of the training. “This programme enhances the prosecutorial approach to defilement cases by focusing on both legal and psychosocial dimensions. A successful prosecution sends a clear message, there is a functioning, child-focused justice system in Kenya.”

The training follows a successful pilot programme held in April this year and brings together prosecutors who will be equipped with trauma-informed and victim-sensitive approaches. The curriculum further aims to strengthen prosecutors’ capacity to handle defilement cases with empathy, integrity, and legal precision, while strengthening inter-agency collaboration with the National Police Service and the Judiciary.