Tanzania, Zanzibar DPPs tour Kenya’s Child-Friendly Technology-Aided Interview Room

Following the end of the two-day regional roundtable focused on emerging trends in sexual and gender-based violence, Directors of Public Prosecutions (DPPs) from Tanzania and Zanzibar visited Kenya’s innovative technology-aided child-friendly room in Nairobi. The room is designed to facilitate the pre-recording of testimony from child victims, ensuring accurate evidence collection while minimizing the risk of secondary victimization.

Linda Ndambiri, the head of the Children’s Division at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), led the presentation highlighting that the room was established as part of Kenya’s broader commitment to combat crimes against children. “The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Kenya has taken significant steps in addressing crimes against children by implementing various policies, including the establishment of child-friendly interview rooms,” said Ndambiri.

Equipped with advanced technology, the child-friendly room ensures that young victims can testify in a safe, controlled environment, free from the intimidation and trauma often experienced in traditional courtrooms. This innovative approach prioritizes the mental and emotional well-being of child victims, offering a space where they can provide their testimony with dignity and without fear of re-traumatization.

“The primary objective of the child-friendly room is to create a secure and supportive environment where children can share their experiences with confidence. It is not only a compassionate response to their vulnerability but also ensures that their voices are heard,” Ndambiri added. The facility helps reduce the risk of secondary victimization, ensuring that children can testify without further harm while contributing to the pursuit of justice.

Sylvester Mwakitalu, the Director of Public Prosecutions Tanzania commended Kenya for introducing the child-friendly rooms, acknowledging the challenges children often face when it comes to testifying in court. He emphasized that this initiative would significantly improve evidence collection, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, and help ensure their safety throughout the legal process.

Mgeni Jecha, DPP from Zanzibar also expressed support for the initiative, noting that with the rapid advancement of technology in society, such measures are timely and necessary in addressing emerging trends in criminal cases. He pointed out that the technology-enabled system could help facilitate the presentation of evidence to various courts without requiring child witnesses to physically appear in court.

This groundbreaking initiative, developed with the support of Lawyers without Borders (LWOB), is the first of its kind in Africa. By leveraging technology and child-centered policies, ODPP Kenya is setting a new benchmark for child victim protection in the justice system, offering a model that other countries can replicate.

The establishment of the child-friendly room aligns with ODPP’s broader efforts to strengthen the justice system and enhance the protection of the most vulnerable members of society. The DPPs from Tanzania and Zanzibar, who visited the facility, were deeply impressed by the initiative, recognizing it as a crucial tool in the fight against child exploitation and abuse.