The Office of the director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Narok town has called on justice stakeholders to collaborate to ensure criminal cases are successfully investigated, prosecuted and charged in court of law.
The Narok ODPP in-charge Gitonga Murang’a observed the police, local administrators; advocates and the witnesses have a role to play to give justice to the victims.
He condemned members of the public who push for their preferred charges saying the only office mandated by the constitution to draw charges is the ODPP.
Before the 2010 constitution, he recalled, the prosecutors were police officers; however, after the promulgation of the current constitution, the prosecutors are professional lawyers who are well equipped to advise on the cases.
Thus, not all cases should go to court. This is why prosecutors advise on cases that should move on to criminal court, civil court, or the Alternative Justice System (AJS), continued Murang’a.
“Many cases like land cases should be moved to Environment and Lands Court where the concerned parties are advised and matters resolved. These matters should not be taken to criminal court,” he advised.
“My office is the chief legal advisor to criminal matters. My work is to advise the police as they carry out investigations so that the cases can go through in court, but massive interference by the members of the public has led to cases flopping in court,” he said.
This means all justice stakeholders have to work closely to get quick justice for their victims of injustice.
More so, the members of the public have a role to play to ensure they give enough evidence that will lead to arrest and proper investigation of cases.
“Our main challenge is that the witnesses give up easily and decline coming to testify in court, making it very difficult to proceed with the cases in court,” he added.
He advised the public that if they are not satisfied with the court rulings, they should make a formal complaint to his office so that justice can be served.
The members of the public should also know that sometimes, the court judgment may not favour them and so, they should respect the decision made by the court.
The advice comes at a time when three people were arrested for being in possession of stolen goods, where the members of the public were pushing that the three be charged with robbery with violence.
By Ann Salaton
