The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, CBS, OGW, has intensified efforts to strengthen environmental protection and governance through strategic collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The DPP held discussions with Prof. Patricia Kameri, Director of the Law Division at UNEP, to explore areas of mutual interest and potential cooperation in advancing environmental law, environmental governance, prosecutorial capacity, and the criminal justice response to environmental crimes in Kenya and the wider region.
The meeting focused on opportunities for collaboration between the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and UNEP in strengthening the environmental rule of law and enhancing the prosecution of environmental crimes.
Key areas discussed included technical support for the development of an ODPP Greening Policy aligned with national, regional, and international environmental commitments, as well as capacity building for prosecutors on environmental crimes, climate justice, wildlife crime, waste crime, pollution, illegal logging, environmental evidence, and multilateral environmental agreements.
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The two institutions also explored the development of prosecutorial guidelines and a practical handbook to support the effective prosecution of environmental crimes in Kenya.
Speaking during the meeting, the DPP emphasized that the ODPP remains a critical pillar in environmental governance and the protection of natural resources.
He observed that environmental law has traditionally been viewed as a regulatory and administrative matter, but noted that emerging trends reveal a growing nexus between environmental harm and organized crime.
“Environmental crimes increasingly intersect with illicit financial flows, corruption, cross-border trafficking, cyber-enabled illicit trade, customs violations, and broader threats to sustainable development,” the DPP said.
He added that a stronger partnership with UNEP would bolster the ODPP’s transformative prosecution agenda while enhancing Kenya’s contribution to environmental justice at national, regional, and international levels.
Prof. Kameri welcomed the proposed collaboration, noting that closer cooperation with the ODPP would enhance vigilance and understanding of environmental crimes, promote awareness of laws governing environmental protection, and strengthen efforts to deter individuals and networks involved in environmental destruction.
