We need about 1,500 to 2,000 Prosecutors for effective work, Says DPP

 The Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji{R} when he visited Kisumu today to officially launch the Nyanza Regional ODPP.He says the country needs between 1,500 to 2,000 prosecutors for effective work of the ODPP across the country-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo

October 22, 2019.

We need about 1,500 to 2,000 Prosecutors for effective work, Says DPP

THE Country needs between 1,500 to 2,000 Prosecutors for the office of the Director of Prosecutions to work effectively across the country, the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has said.

Haji says currently the office of Director of Public Prosecutions has employed 900 prosecutors who are professional lawyers but the number is still not enough to serve the public.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today after officially launching the Nyanza Regional Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Haji said the office still need extra prosecutors for the effective service delivery.

He says the issue of using senior police officers as prosecutors has been faced out completely , adding that his office has managed to employ professional lawyers to handle prosecutions.

“Currently we have employed 900 professional lawyers as prosecutors across the country and in our opinion this is not sufficient hence need more prosecutors,” Haji says.

He says the reason as to why there is need for more prosecutors is because, there are a number of cases ranging from witch craft to complex cases that needs prosecutions.

The Director of Public Prosecutions says they will put a request to the Government to allow the office to employ more prosecutors to help bridge the gap and do it in phases.

He says the office will soon launch a guideline for prosecutors, adding that such a guideline will greatly help the prosecutors in handling cases effectively.

“We have also introduced the internal compliance unit which looks at the level of compliance of all policies within the office of the Director of Prosecutions,” Haji further says.

Haji adds that the office have introduced the Inspectorate which now inspects services offered under the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He says all the measures are aimed at ensuring that there is integrity in the process of prosecutions.

He says the purpose of launching the Regional Offices of Director of Public Prosecutions is to oversight the 47 counties that have been decentralized, adding there are a total of nine regional offices across the country.

He says the regional offices will now the prosecutors to work in a conducive environment on issues of prosecutions.

Haji says the office is also conducting public forum where they engage the members of the public in a community dialogue on issues of prosecutions.

He has assured the public that his office is currently working on quality prosecutions, adding that cases must meet thresholds that have  been set.

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