‘Give EACC Powers To Prosecute Cases!’ – MPs Tell DPP
Members of Parliament have proposed giving the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) the authority to prosecute cases under investigation as a way to address the delays in resolving instances involving the theft of public funds.
While presenting the report to the National Assembly, Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) Vice Chairperson Mwengi Mutuse suggested that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) designate EACC lawyers as special prosecutors when dealing with corruption matters.
According to the legislation, the DPP has the authority to delegate prosecution powers to others.
JLAC supported the recommendation of the new EACC chairman Abdi Mohamud, who, during his vetting process, stated that EACC lawyers are better equipped to prosecute the case as opposed to the DPP.
“One thing we could try in my view is that the DPP has the power to appoint other people who are qualified lawyers to prosecute cases,” Mohamud stated.
“When you take a file that has 20 pieces of documentary evidence to a prosecutor, he may not have the time to peruse all the documents in that file.”
“If it’s a lawyer who was engaged in the collection of evidence, analysis, that person understands that file like the back of his hand,” he added.
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The DPP has faced criticism for repeatedly dismissing high-profile corruption prosecutions due to an apparent failure to produce witnesses.
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki recieved by Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga, OGW for the official launch of ODPP Strategic Plan 2023-2027as the Chief Guest.#HakiNaUsawa #ODPPStrategyLaunch pic.twitter.com/WjgtVtY2Gd
— Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (@ODPP_KE) December 4, 2024
This was underlined in President William Ruto’s State of the Nation address last month, when he stated that such occurrences harmed the battle against corruption.
Ruto Slams DPP, Judiciary:
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 21, 2024
Ruto castigates DPP for arbitrarily dropping corruption cases
Ruto says action is a major setback in the fight against graft
Ruto also accused Judiciary of undermining war on corruption
President urged Parliament to pass the Conflict of Interest Bill… pic.twitter.com/tQrZHx90rs
“I must caution that all these measures will only achieve intended results if, and only if, the institutions charged with combating corruption and promoting efficiency and integrity stop hiding behind the transparent screen of independence and rise up to meet the people’s expectations on matters integrity,” Ruto remarked.
“It cannot be the case that the director of public prosecutions keeps dropping cases because, somehow, they are unable to produce witnesses.”
‘Give EACC Powers To Prosecute Cases!’ – MPs Tell DPP
