The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has established a dedicated division to handle electoral offences ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The new unit will bring together specially trained prosecutors who will deal with cases arising from the election period, including violence, hate speech, intimidation and cybercrime.
Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga said the move is aimed at ensuring electoral offences are handled quickly and that those found culpable face the law.
“The ODPP has established a fully-fledged division dedicated to handling electoral-related offences, supported by specially trained prosecutors to ensure timely and effective prosecution of offences committed during the electoral period,” Ingonga said.
The statements were made on Monday, August 10, 2014, during a forum at the University of Nairobi which saw political stakeholders come together to deliberate on issues of preparations for the forthcoming elections, and whether Kenya can conduct peaceful and credible campaigns.
Ingonga advised politicians and others not to use violence, incitement, intimidation or any other platform that may threaten the conduct of the elections process.
The ODPP will collaborate closely with other investigating bodies and other relevant institutions in ensuring that the investigation and prosecution of election offenses are carried out efficiently.
According to the DPP, his office is currently collaborating with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the National Police Service (NPS).
However, he identified delays in reporting and investigating offences as one of the challenges that could undermine successful prosecution.
Ingonga explained that the ODPP normally receives cases after investigations by the relevant agencies have been completed. Any delays at the initial stages can therefore affect the time taken to make decisions on whether suspects should be charged.
The NCIC currently handles cases involving hate speech and inflammatory remarks before forwarding completed investigations to the ODPP for a decision on prosecution.
Establishment of the special unit has come amidst preparations for the General Election of August 10, 2027.
In the same vein, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has increased its preparations for the coming elections by commencing the sourcing of essential electoral materials such as the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits and ballot papers.
As the 2027 election period is anticipated to be a politically competitive one, the authorities have been put under pressure to address any offences at their early stages to avert incidences of violence and intimidation.
The ODPP’s move is therefore expected to strengthen the legal response to electoral offences and ensure cases arising before, during and after the election are handled by prosecutors with specific experience in election-related crimes.
