Kenya’s Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) is seeking to strengthen inter-agency relations to enhance efficiency in service delivery.

The ODPP, Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Tom Imbali says there an urgent need for collaboration between all key justice stakeholders to ensure their clients get justice without delays.

“As ODPP, we believe in collaboration not competition or suspicion. Working together will ensure justice is served efficiently and fairly,” he said.

He spoke when he visited the Narok ODPP office where he held meetings with key stakeholders among them, the staff at the judiciary led by Narok Chief Magistrate Jared Nyaberi and the county security team led by Narok County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia.

The stakeholders discussed issues that affect the criminal justice system and how to mitigate the challenges. Some of the issues discussed include disappearance of accused persons, witnesses not showing up in court and congestion in prisons.

Imbali, who was accompanied by Narok ODPP in-charge Gitonga Murang’a, cited the need to encourage feedback from all the relevant players in order to improve decision making process and build mutual support among the stakeholders.

He spoke at length on the need for all ODPP staff to uphold high levels of honesty, ethics and confidentiality in their daily operations.

Commissioner Lotiatia stressed the need for the security team and ODPP to continue cooperating so as to promote a just society. He pledged to support ODPP by ensuring timely sharing of files and ensuring the availability of witnesses in court.

The two departments promised to organise a prison decongestion exercise to address overcrowding in prisons.

The ODPP core function is to make the decision to charge and determine what charges should be preferred in a criminal case.

The office also advises the government ministries, departments and state corporations on matters pertaining to the application of criminal law and handling of matters relating to international relations.

• A Tell / KNA report / By Ann Salaton