ODPP on The Preparedness Ahead Of The General Elections

The office of the director of public prosecution conducted a sensitization forum on the training of focal point counsels and stakeholders in the electoral justice system on the ODPP preparedness in prosecution of election and hate speech offences.

The forum saw different stakeholders attend including Independent Policing oversight Authority [IPOA],The Judiciary, International justice union and regional representatives of the ODPP countrywide.

The sensitization forum took place in Eldoret with the deputy director Rodah Ogoma being the chief guest.

The office of the director of public prosecution says they are ready to charge those who will be involved in election offences during the 9th august general elections.

“We are going to take action to those who will bring chaos and to those who will be hired to bring violence in this country, we as the ODPP we are ready to enhance justice for mwananchi through justice” she said.

Ogoma urged various stakeholders to take responsibility during the elections period “I therefore urge each of you to be responsible in enhancing and ensuring that elections are free and fair, additionally, respect the fundamental human rights,” she added.

She also urged the stakeholders and investigative agencies to consider timeliness when relaying information.

“I therefore urge you to be timely and accurate when relaying information of election related offences and the ongoing cases in court” she said.

She reminded investigative agencies to be on the frontline “To our investigators and law enforcing agencies i would like to insist that successful prosecution of electoral offences is reliant on strong and impartial investigations and its therefore integral as we work as a team”

The mandate of the ODPP as derived from Article 157 of the constitution is to protect the constitutional rights and also to prosecute criminal matters in the court of law. This ensures that anyone that will go against the rule of law will be taken accountable.

By Felex Nyanga