The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, has called on prosecutors across Africa to embrace innovation, technology, and regional collaboration in tackling emerging forms of crime.
Speaking during the Third Annual Prosecutors Conference in Lusaka, Zambia, held under the theme “The Evolving Role of a Prosecutor in a Complex World; Innovation and Sustainable Practice”, Ingonga stressed that modern-day prosecution requires more than legal expertise.
“As the global environment is evolving, so must our approach to prosecution. The challenges we face do not just require legal expertise but also strategic foresight,” Ingonga said, noting that prosecutors are on the frontline of safeguarding public trust despite operating with limited resources.
As President of the Africa Prosecutors Association and the Eastern Africa Association of Prosecutors, Ingonga highlighted recent efforts to train prosecutors on tackling transnational organised crimes, including terrorism, money laundering, cybercrime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. He underscored the urgent need for stronger regional frameworks to dismantle cross-border criminal networks.
Outlining Kenya’s efforts, Ingonga revealed that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has embraced innovative strategies such as a partnership with the Human Trafficking Institute to provide specialized training. The ODPP has also established an Innovative Prosecutions Performance Framework Council to promote creative solutions against emerging crime trends, while increasingly relying on forensic accounting, electronic data analysis, and prosecution-guided investigations that have secured convictions in high-profile corruption and financial crime cases.
He noted that Kenya has revamped its Anti-Money Laundering and Asset Forfeiture Division to address crimes linked to cryptocurrency and illicit financial flows. On child protection, Ingonga described online child sexual exploitation as “an urgent crisis of our digital age,” citing the introduction of child-friendly interview rooms, digital forensic evidence, and pre-recorded testimonies in prosecuting such cases.
Beyond legal reforms, Ingonga emphasized the importance of mental health support for prosecutors. He disclosed that the ODPP has embedded clinical officers and introduced wellness programs under its Strategic Plan 2023–2027, reducing burnout and improving staff resilience.
“As prosecutors, we must foster a culture where mental wellness is treated with the same seriousness as case preparation. Mental wellness is not a weakness but a strategy,” he affirmed.
The conference brought together prosecutors from across Africa to deliberate on crime trends, best practices, and innovations shaping the future of prosecution.
