ODPP Pledges Stronger Collaboration with LSK in Fight Against Corruption at Annual Conference

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, CBS, OGW, has called for deeper collaboration between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in protecting constitutionalism, strengthening the rule of law, and ensuring accountability in public institutions.

Speaking at the LSK Annual Conference in Diani, the DPP lauded the conference’s theme, “Protecting Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law – Ensuring Accountability”, noting its timeliness amid growing public demand for transparency in governance.

Mr. Ingonga underscored the ODPP’s pivotal role in ensuring prudent management of public finances, citing Article 201 of the Constitution. He revealed that the ODPP has prioritized high-profile corruption and economic crimes cases through specialized prosecution teams, resulting in convictions of former governors Daniel Waithaka Mwangi (Nyandarua), Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu), and Moses Lenolkulal (Samburu). He commended the Judiciary, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for their collaboration.

The DPP also championed plea bargaining as an effective tool for securing convictions, reducing case backlogs, and decongesting prisons, urging LSK members to embrace the practice. “Plea bargaining is not a surrender – it is survival,” he remarked, adding that such approaches strengthen the justice system’s efficiency.

On public engagement, Mr. Ingonga highlighted the ODPP’s grassroots campaigns through community dialogues, digital platforms, and radio broadcasts in English, Kiswahili, and vernacular languages. These initiatives, he said, are part of the ODPP’s People-Centered Prosecution service model aimed at promoting accountability at all levels.

Reaffirming his commitment to environmental protection under the ODPP’s 2023–2027 Strategic Plan, the DPP vowed to prosecute crimes affecting the environment, while also enhancing digital trust through improved data management in the Case Management System, ensuring real-time tracking of corruption cases.

However, he warned that corruption continues to threaten public institutions, erode trust, and stifle socio-economic growth, further noting Kenya’s placement on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “Grey List” as a national concern. He cautioned legal practitioners against being used as conduits for money laundering and urged the LSK to enforce compliance with FATF standards to safeguard the integrity of the profession.

“As lawyers, you play an essential role in ensuring that public servants are held accountable to the oath of office they swore to protect,” Ingonga stressed, emphasizing that the fight against corruption requires the united effort of all justice sector actors.

The DPP encouraged delegates to apply the knowledge gained from the conference in their daily practice. “A lot still needs to be done through our collaborative efforts — not as allies, but as professionals who share the same duty: justice,” he said.