For the last three months, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has been on the limelight under accusations of being incompetent to hold the prestigious office.
Today, an activist has moved to the High Court seeking to stop the Officer of Director of Public Prosecutions Advisory Board from proceeding with the recruitment to fill vacant positions for senior officers at the office.
In his petition, Fredrick Bikeri told the court that the Advisory Board which is chaired by the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji overstretched its constitutional mandate and usurped the powers of the Public Service Commission.
“The DPP, ODPP, and the Advisory Board are currently in the process of confirming the successful candidates by recruiting, appointing, and promoting the successful candidates they interviewed from the 11th to 20th April 2022 at the Prosecutions Training Institute.
The positions in question include that of Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Chief Accountant, Chief Internal Auditor, Chief Finance Officer, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Senior Assistant Director Records Management, Senior Assistant Director Administrator, and Senior Assistant Director Supply Chain Management.
The petitioner accuses the DPP of convening a meeting with the advisory board which thereafter proceeded to conduct interviews of the persons shortlisted for various positions for state counsels.
The petitioner says the advisory board acted against the law by proceeding to conduct interviews by subjecting the shortlisted candidates to a written examination.
“The conduct of the Advisory Board attending to the interviews asking questions and awarding marks was an illegality and contrary to the functions and powers of the advisory board as per the constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions Act No.3 of 2013,” said the petitioner.
The petitioner says the Advisory Board was only supposed to advise but not take part in conducting interviews, awarding and confirming the appointments.
