DPP proposes new office structure

By Cyrus Ombati

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has developed an organizational structure for the new-look office in line with the new Constitution that establishes it as an independent office.

The structure was developed by the DPP assisted by consultants from the ministry of Public Service and has been submitted to the Public Service Commission for approval.

Office of the DPP, according to the proposed structure, shall comprise four thematic directorates - Offenses against the Person, Economics, International and Emerging Crimes, County Affairs and Regulatory Prosecutions and the Central Facilitation Services - each headed by a deputy director.

Each directorate will be divided into a number of specialized divisions headed by a senior assistant deputy director while sections and units under them will be headed by assistant deputy directors. The role and functions of each directorate and the reporting channels are stipulated in the structure.

According to the proposal, the position of Secretary of Public Prosecutions has been created. The functions of the Secretary shall include deputizing the DPP and directly overseeing the function of the Resource Centre.

DPP Keriako Tobiko told The Standard he hopes the new structure will enhance better delivery of services once it is operational.

"We are set to be the best in the coming days and I believe the proposed structure will work out well."

Recruitment

Secretary and deputy directors will be recruited through an open and competitive process and appointed with the approval of the Parliament.

According to the proposal, County offices of the DPP shall be headed by the Chief County Prosecutor who shall be at the level of an assistant director of public prosecutions.

It will cost Sh5 billion to implement the proposed structure with annual personal emolument budget being estimated at Sh1.8 billion at the current salary rates while the operations and maintenance cost estimated at Sh3.2 billion.

The DPP has proposed to hire 504 state counsels to replace police prosecutors.

The aim is to gradually phase out the police prosecutors. But those who will be retained will undergo training to handle complex criminal prosecutions.

Meanwhile, the DPP has developed a draft legislation, which is intended to establish a National Prosecution Service.

The proposed law will empower the office to recruit its own staff, determine their terms and conditions of service in consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and derive funding directly from the Consolidated Fund.

The draft is currently being refined by a team at the office of the DPP in preparation for consultations with the Attorney General, the Commission on Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) and the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee.