Director of Public Prosecutions’ office to recruit 300 staff in bid to devolve services

By Stephen Makabila

Nairobi, Kenya: The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is expected to hire more than 300 legal and non-legal staff as it embarks on devolving services to the 18 counties that remain.

Unlike in the past when the ODPP hired employees through the Public Service Commission (PSC), this process will be one of direct recruitment with interviews conducted by the Advisory Board chaired by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Keriako Tobiko.

Other members of the board inaugurated in March include Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, Law Society of Kenya chairman Eric Mutua and representatives from the Ministry of National Treasury, Judiciary, Witness Protection Agency and the Attorney General’s office among others.

“Interviews for 180 prosecution lawyers and 39 non-legal staff will start in Nairobi and at the county level until the end of September,” Tobiko told The Standard on Sunday.

He said 65 support staff had already been interviewed and will report to the ODPP before they are deployed to counties.

The ODPP has already upgraded its original 15 field offices into fully fledged county offices.

They include Mombasa, Nakuru, Kakamega, Kisumu, Nyeri, Meru, Kisii, Machakos, Eldoret, Bungoma, Embu, Malindi, Kitale, Kericho and Busia.

It has also established and deployed staff to 14 new county offices in Garissa, Lodwar, Wajir, Marsabit, Isiolo, Nyahururu, Kerogoya, Murang’a, Thika, Narok, Bomet, Homabay, Kajiado and Voi.

“This brings to 29 the total number of our county offices headed by Chief County Prosecutors.  We plan to establish the remaining 18 offices this financial year,” added Tobiko.

The DPP however says the unattractive remuneration package offered to the staff has impacted immensely on the ability of the organisation to hire and retain the best professionals in the job market.

He says a proposal for improved terms for ODPP staff has already been forwarded to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for consideration and advice, but was yet to be acted upon by the Sarah Serem led Commission.

“We hire and train professionals who later run away to seek greener pastures. We have to reverse this trend and it can only be through improved remuneration,” added Tobiko.

ODPP is currently operating at a mere 27.8 per cent of the optimal staff establishment. The current number of legal staff is a mere 161 against an optimal requirement of 927 which translates to 17.4 per cent, while that of the non-legal staff is currently at 198 against an optimal of 364 which translates to 54.3 per cent of the optimal establishment.