- The ODPP and Equality Effect have trained 569 prosecutors across all 47 counties under the 160 Girls Defilement Prosecution Training Programme.
- DPP Renson Ingonga has emphasised the importance of trauma-informed prosecution in understanding child survivors’ behaviour and testimony.
- The programme has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with 99.7 per cent of participants indicating they would recommend the training to colleagues.
More than 500 prosecutors have undergone specialised training on the prosecution of defilement cases as part of efforts to strengthen Kenya’s response to sexual violence against children.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), in partnership with Equality Effect, trained 569 prosecutors drawn from all 47 counties under the 160 Girls Defilement Prosecution Training Programme.
The programme, which began in April 2026, concluded with the 18th and final cohort, marking the completion of a nationwide training cycle focused on trauma-informed prosecution and the rights of child survivors.
Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga said the programme was intended to bring about a shift in the way prosecutors understand and handle defilement cases. Mr Ingonga said prosecutors need to understand the effects of trauma on children, particularly the reasons survivors may delay reporting abuse or give accounts that appear inconsistent, fragmented or out of sequence. “The role of a prosecutor in the criminal justice system is not passive,” said Mr Ingonga, noting that decisions made at different stages of a case can significantly affect a child’s experience of the justice process.
ALSO READ:
Kisii: 23-year-old man arrested over alleged defilement of Primary school learner
The 160 Girls Project draws its inspiration from the landmark 160 Girls case, which highlighted shortcomings in institutional responses to defilement and affirmed the constitutional rights of child victims. The case subsequently became a catalyst for reforms aimed at making Kenya’s justice institutions more responsive to survivors of sexual violence.
Equality Effect Global Legal Adviser Anne Ireri said the Toronto-based legal organisation had worked in Kenya for 14 years and was involved in the landmark case. Ms Ireri said the organisation uses legal advocacy to identify gaps in law and policy and develop interventions aimed at translating legal rights into practical protection and access to justice.
Secretary, Prosecution Services, Alloys Kemo, said the training had received positive feedback from participating prosecutors. Mr Kemo said 99.7 per cent of prosecutors who completed the programme indicated that they would recommend the training to their colleagues, adding that participants also expressed confidence in applying the knowledge and strategies acquired during the training in their day-to-day work.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Ebby Maswai said children who enter the justice system after sexual abuse have different trauma experiences, and understanding trauma was essential to ensuring that the pursuit of justice remained both effective and sensitive to the needs of child survivors.
ALSO READ: 866 P1 teachers posted to JSS, set to report to new stations on October 1
The 12-module programme covered trauma-informed evidence, police investigations, stakeholder collaboration, prosecution checklists, action planning and best practices in handling sexual offences. The 18 cohorts used an interactive approach involving group discussions, plenary sessions, case studies, question-and-answer sessions and experiential learning. Prosecutors also examined the relationship between trauma and memory in children, evidence analysis and the importance of collaboration among police, prosecutors and other justice sector actors.
The ODPP and Equality Effect said the completion of the final cohort marks the end of the current training cycle but stressed that the broader objective is to ensure that lessons from the 160 Girls case continue to influence everyday prosecution practice. The initiative seeks to place the experiences and dignity of child survivors at the centre of efforts to strengthen Kenya’s criminal justice response to sexual violence while ensuring that the law is applied fairly, professionally and consistently.
By Jeff Kirui
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
