The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has established a special team of prosecutors to handle hate speech and election-related offences ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Igonga said the team would focus on prosecuting individuals involved in incitement, hate speech and other offences that could undermine peaceful elections.
Igonga said the ODPP had begun training the designated officers in collaboration with other partners to strengthen their capacity to handle election-related cases.
“ODPP has set up a special team of prosecutors whose sole mandate is to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of hate speech and election offences,” he said.
The move comes amid concerns raised by government agencies and independent institutions over increasing cases of hate speech and tribal hostility, particularly on social media platforms.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has previously warned that inflammatory rhetoric could threaten national cohesion as the country approaches the next General Election.
Speaking after the opening of the ODPP offices in Naivasha, Igonga also defended the withdrawal of some cases from court, saying the decisions were justified and had received court approval.
He said the prosecution office was promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms as part of efforts to address the backlog of cases in the justice system.
Igonga said the new Naivasha office would improve access to prosecution services and facilitate the administration of justice.
He added that the office would also support the timely handling of cases involving children, including defilement and other sexual offences reported in the area.
Naivasha Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti said the Judiciary would work with the ODPP to improve access to justice, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Ogoti said the courts were prepared to handle the growing number of cases involving children during the Children’s Service Month, adding that matters concerning minors were being prioritised.
Justice Cecelia Githua said the Judiciary was also promoting alternative dispute resolution to reduce the number of pending cases.
She disclosed that Naivasha had 1,906 pending criminal cases and more than 500 traffic cases, highlighting the need for measures to improve the disposal of cases.
“We are working with the office of public prosecution to promote use of ADR to reduce backlog and ensure timely disposal of cases for Kenyans,” she said.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Representative Ali El-Bereir said the organisation would continue supporting Kenya’s criminal justice system, including through infrastructure development and capacity building.
He added that the United Nations would support Kenya’s preparations for the August 2027 elections by strengthening the capacity of relevant government institutions.
