By Michelle Ndaga
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has deepened its collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to accelerate the implementation of Kenya’s Diversion Policy.
The renewed partnership follows a meeting held at the ODPP Coast Regional Office, where the two institutions reviewed progress and shared experiences in applying the policy.
The Diversion Policy seeks to offer alternatives to prosecution, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups in conflict with the law, thereby promoting restorative justice and reducing case backlogs in courts.
Regional Head and Senior Assistant DPP Joseph Kimanthi reaffirmed ODPP’s commitment to fair, inclusive, and victim-sensitive prosecutions. He commended UNODC for its continued support in building institutional capacity to make the policy a success.
Prosecutors at the meeting emphasized the importance of stakeholder buy-in, proper record-keeping through the Uadilifu Case Management System, and greater investment in training, staffing, and resources to scale up Diversion nationally.
UNODC representatives welcomed the feedback, noting it would inform broader justice reforms. Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to entrenching diversion as a cornerstone of Kenya’s child-friendly and victim-sensitive justice system.
