ODPP enhances cooperation with the International Maritime Organization

July 20, 2024

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) engaged with representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation in combating maritime-related crimes.

Vincent Monda, Head of the Mutual Legal Assistance Division at ODPP, proposed joint training initiatives for prosecutors, judicial officers, and investigators. These programs aim to strengthen capabilities in evidence gathering, presentation, and the establishment of procedural guidelines for handling maritime cases effectively.

Highlighting recent developments, Monda informed IMO about the establishment of a dedicated Maritime Crimes Division within the ODPP. This division has a team of specialized prosecutors tasked with prosecuting maritime offenses in Kenya.

Given the resurgence of piracy and emerging security threats in the Indian Ocean, Monda emphasized the importance of formalizing new engagement terms through updated Memoranda of Understanding between Kenya and relevant stakeholders.

Kiruja Muchemi, IMO’s Project Manager, acknowledged the critical need for capacity building in the justice sector. He underscored IMO’s commitment to equipping legal professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to address the rising incidence of maritime crimes. Muchemi also emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts, especially for countries like Kenya that share maritime boundaries, in exploring diverse strategies to combat these challenges effectively.

Mr. Alloys Kemo is the Deputy Director in the Department of Prosecution Training Institute (PTI). Mr. Kemo is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and was admitted to the bar on 1995. He holds a Master’s of Science in Leadership & Governance from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) , LLB Degree from Nagpur University, and a postgraduate diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.

Mr. Kemo has previously served as a Regional Head, Coast Region between 2019 to 2021 before heading to Rift Valley as a Regional head. He has also served as a deputy head in the Department of offences against the person and Head of the Penal Code Offences Division between 2013 to 2018 at the Office of the Direction of Public Prosecutions.

He has also been a member of several committees that developed key prosecution policies and guidelines such as; the ODPP Act of 2012, National Prosecution guidelines, the Diversion policy, Diversion guidelines, the Plea bargain guidelines and The Decision to Charge guidelines amongst others. He also attended several prosecution courses in various thematic areas and in management and in Leadership.

Mr. Kemo has vast experience electoral Justice and lead the ODPP Election Offences Prosecution Team in the 2017 National General Elections and also the ODPP Election Preparedness Committee in the 2022 National General Elections. He is a trainer and has facilitated external trainings and also internal training for ODPP staff.

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ODPP enhances cooperation with the International Maritime Organization

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