Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has firmly denied claims that his office is being used as a tool by the government to target or silence Kenyans. Speaking during a public engagement forum, Ingonga emphasized that the Office of the DPP operates independently and bases its decisions on the law and available evidence not political pressure or public sentiment.
“The Office of the DPP is independent, and the DPP is independent that’s why we have guidelines before even taking matters to court,” he stated. “Meeting the threshold is crucial, and not all trials must end in conviction.”
Ingonga defended the integrity of his office amid growing public scrutiny, especially regarding recent high-profile case withdrawals and concerns over police accountability and extrajudicial killings. He explained that the decision to prosecute or withdraw charges hinges on whether the legal threshold has been met, and if new evidence particularly from the defence alters the strength of the prosecution’s case.
“Unfortunately for the DPP, we give all the evidence to the defence. But we do not receive evidence from the defence. That’s why you may find that in the course of the trial, there’s evidence from the defence that we didn’t have. If we had it, we wouldn’t have charged those people,” he explained.
He added that in situations where it becomes clear that a conviction is unlikely due to such revelations, his office will opt to withdraw the case rather than pursue a weak prosecution.
Beyond legal procedures, Ingonga highlighted the importance of public stability and security as fundamental to national development. “Any society, any government, must first have security and stability. Without stability, we can’t speak about economic success, financial growth, or tourism,” he noted.
The DPP also reiterated Kenya’s ongoing efforts in regional cooperation to tackle serious cross-border crimes such as terrorism, terror financing, and money laundering.
Ingonga’s remarks aim to reassure the public of his office’s independence and dedication to justice, amid heightened political tensions and increased calls for prosecutorial transparency and accountability.
