The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has commended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for its continued efforts to strengthen electoral justice and safeguard the integrity of Kenya’s democratic processes.
Speaking during the launch of the 𝐈𝐄𝐁𝐂 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭, Ingonga emphasized that electoral justice is a cornerstone of Kenya’s constitutional democracy, assuring voters, candidates, political parties and communities that elections are conducted lawfully, peacefully and credibly, while guaranteeing that grievances are resolved through established legal mechanisms.
“Electoral justice is not an abstract legal idea. It is the assurance given to every voter, candidate, political party and community that elections are not merely events, but lawful, peaceful and credible expressions of the people’s sovereign will,” he said.
He described the publication as more than a record of legal proceedings, saying it provides an important opportunity for institutions and stakeholders to evaluate Kenya’s electoral processes and identify areas for improvement ahead of future elections.
The DPP cited key constitutional provisions that underpin Kenya’s electoral justice system, including Article 38 on political rights, Article 81 on the principles of free and fair elections, Article 86 on transparent and accountable electoral systems, Article 87 on the timely settlement of electoral disputes, and Article 88, which mandates the IEBC to resolve pre-election disputes, including nomination disputes. He noted that this mandate is further reinforced by Section 74 of the Elections Act, which establishes clear timelines for resolving such disputes.
He also underscored the IEBC’s quasi-judicial role, saying the Commission must uphold fairness, independence, due process and reasoned decision-making while operating within the strict timelines of the electoral calendar. He added that Kenya’s electoral justice system is supported by other institutions, including the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), the Judiciary and various constitutional commissions.
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To enhance preparedness for future elections, Ingonga announced that he has established an Elections Preparedness Committee chaired by the Secretary for Prosecution Services, which will coordinate the handling of cases arising from breaches of the Election Offences Act and work closely with the IEBC and other stakeholders to promote peaceful, secure and credible elections.
The DPP also called for stronger coordination between institutions by improving referral mechanisms between administrative findings and criminal investigations. He stressed the importance of preserving digital and documentary evidence at the earliest opportunity, noting that timely evidence collection is critical to effective investigations and successful prosecutions.
He reaffirmed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ commitment to working closely with the IEBC, the National Police Service (NPS), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), the Judiciary and other stakeholders to ensure electoral disputes are resolved in a timely, credible and people-centred manner.
