Justice and Equality Calls for Investigation into Kenya's DPP Over Termination of Anti-Corruption Cases

The UK-based organization Justice and Equality has called for an investigation into Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Relson Ingonga, following a series of mass terminations of anti-corruption cases.

Through its Chairman, Sebastian Onyango, the organization expressed concern over the DPP’s recent actions, which they claim undermine the independent institution’s mandate to prosecute cases to their conclusion. “We are deeply concerned by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ move to terminate cases under unclear circumstances. We are calling for an immediate investigation to ascertain what is happening following the mass withdrawal of graft cases,” said Onyango.

Justice and Equality also criticized the parliamentary vetting committee for proceeding with the vetting of all cabinet secretaries nominated by President William Ruto, despite many of them facing corruption charges. According to the organization, all nominated cabinet secretaries with pending corruption cases should have been rejected until their cases were heard and determined by the judiciary.

They specifically cited the reappointment of Professor Kithure Kindiki as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior as particularly egregious, criticizing his record during the recent anti-government protests. “We are appalled by the decision to reappoint the immediate former Internal Security Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Kindiki, under whose tenure there have been instances of police brutality, forced disappearances, abductions, and a general lack of accountability in law enforcement operations. He should indeed be declared unfit for public office anywhere in the Republic of Kenya,” Onyango stated.

Onyango took issue with Prof. Kindiki’s response to questions about police brutality, in which Kindiki suggested that state security primarily concerned government buildings and politicians, including President Ruto. “This cannot be further from the truth. May we remind all cabinet secretaries that the sovereign in Kenya is the people of Kenya, as established by Chapter 1 of our 2010 Constitution,” Onyango emphasized.

The organization urged President Ruto to prioritize protecting the constitution, including refraining from appointing cabinet secretaries from the opposition, warning that such actions could undermine democratic principles.