Nanyuki: The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has kicked off a countrywide public awareness drive to sensitise the public on its work and tackle mounting court case delays, with a focus on faster justice delivery. Speaking in Nanyuki Town during a weekend team-building retreat for prosecutors from 13 Rift Valley counties, Prosecution Services Director Alloys Kemo revealed that the ODPP was expanding the use of plea bargains and diversion programmes to ease pressure on the courts.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kemo emphasized that plea bargaining saves time and resources. He explained that once an accused person pleads guilty to negotiated charges, there is no need to call witnesses or go through a full trial. Pre-bargaining is a negotiated agreement between the defenders and the prosecutor in a criminal case to avoid going for a full trial, where the accused agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a concession from the prosecution resulting in a lighter sentence.
Kemo also highlighted the cost implications, stating that proving a complex case in court can be very expensive in terms of time and money. Plea bargaining, therefore, saves the government from such expenses. He noted that these are some of the alternative ways being deployed to provide for prosecutions and reduce case backlog.
Kemo urged at-risk witnesses to contact the ODPP immediately for state protection, including relocation to safe houses until their cases are concluded. In the past, ODPP has faced sharp criticism over repeated adjournments and slow case disposal. The new sensitisation campaign and adoption of modern case management tools are part of ongoing reforms to restore public trust and streamline operations.
According to Temo, through community engagement, plea bargaining, and witness protection, the ODPP aims to deliver quicker, cheaper, and safer justice for all Kenyans.