ODPP Gets Boost as Parliamentary Committee Approves Regulations for KSh2 Billion Special Fund

ODPP Gets Boost as Parliamentary Committee Approves Regulations for KSh2 Billion Special Fund

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has received a significant boost after a parliamentary committee approved regulations paving the way for the creation of a KSh2 billion special fund aimed at strengthening criminal prosecutions and improving the delivery of justice in the country.

The approval was granted by the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation during a meeting held on Thursday, March 5, where lawmakers reviewed the proposed Public Finance Management (Public Prosecutions Fund) Regulations, 2025.

According to members of the committee, the establishment of the new Public Prosecutions Fund is expected to provide the ODPP with additional financial resources necessary to handle complex criminal cases, enhance investigative capacity, and improve the overall efficiency of the justice system.

The fund will be operationalised under Kenya’s Public Finance Management framework and is expected to support a wide range of prosecutorial activities, including asset recovery, specialised investigations, and prosecution of corruption-related cases.

Appearing before the committee during the deliberations, Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga welcomed the move, saying the new funding structure would enable his office to effectively respond to increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

“The initial capital of the fund shall be Sh2 billion appropriated by the National Assembly in the 2026/2027 financial year. The independent fund will enhance efficiency in the delivery of justice, strengthen the justice system, and support anti-corruption efforts,” Ingonga told lawmakers.

He noted that beyond the initial allocation by Parliament, the fund would also draw resources from various alternative streams designed to ensure sustainability.

According to Ingonga, the fund will receive additional financing through grants and donations, proceeds from deferred prosecution agreements, as well as funds recovered through plea bargaining arrangements.

Further sources of funding will include proceeds from preservation orders issued during criminal proceedings, compensation and restitution ordered by courts, and income generated through investments of the fund.

Legal experts say the move could significantly improve the ability of prosecutors to pursue complex cases involving economic crimes, corruption, and transnational criminal activities, which often require extensive investigations and specialised expertise.

During the parliamentary session, Ingonga was accompanied by senior officials from the prosecution service, including Alloys Kemo and several senior and deputy directors within the ODPP, who also expressed support for the establishment of the fund.

Members of the committee indicated that the regulations had undergone thorough legal scrutiny and were found to be compliant with existing statutory requirements.

Ainabkoi MP and committee chairperson Samuel Chepkonga assured the public that the proposed regulations met all legal standards and aligned with Kenya’s statutory instruments framework.

“We have reviewed the regulations and are satisfied that they conform to the law and comply with the Statutory Instruments Act, 2013,” Chepkonga said during the meeting.

The committee will now prepare a detailed report on the regulations before tabling it in the National Assembly of Kenya for debate and final approval by lawmakers.

If adopted, the Public Prosecutions Fund is expected to significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the ODPP, which plays a central role in the country’s criminal justice system.

The ODPP was established as an independent constitutional office under Article 157 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and was formally separated from the Office of the Attorney General in 2011. Its operations were later reinforced through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act No. 2 of 2013.

The office is responsible for instituting and conducting criminal prosecutions, as well as directing investigations carried out by the National Police Service.

Analysts say the creation of the special fund signals growing institutional commitment to strengthening Kenya’s justice system and enhancing the country’s capacity to combat corruption and organised crime effectively.

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ODPP Gets Boost as Parliamentary Committee Approves Regulations for KSh2 Billion Special Fund