Haji: 88 Corruption cases will return Sh16.8 billion

Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji. [File, Standard]

The office of the Director of Public Prosecution is currently handling 88 corruption cases involving Sh16.8 billion.

According to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji the office is prosecuting 16 cases involving Sh100 million and above, 17 involving between Sh10 million and Sh99 million and 10 involving between Sh1 million and Sh9 million.

At least 34 other cases cannot be quantified.

The DPP revealed this when he appeared before the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) chaired by Baringo North MP William Cheptumo. He told the MPs said that the ongoing cases required more prosecutors to handle them speedily.

The DPP's office is working with the Attorney General's office to formulate guidelines to set up a special fund where recovered proceeds of crime will be deposited.

The MPs heard that one bank which was fined Sh64 million for acts of omission in the National Youth Service scam has already paid the fine.

Planned changes

He told the MPs of plans to make changes in the organizational structure of his office including setting up of proceeds of crime recovery unit, inspectorate unit, victims and witness facilitation unit and internal affairs unit.

On the victims and witnesses facilitation, Haji wants the vote be moved from the Judiciary to his office. Haji decried inadequate funding for his office saying this was frustrating the war against corruption.

According to the DPP, the overall resource allocation for the 2019-20 financial year is Sh3.03 billion against a requirement of Sh4.95 billion leaving a deficit of Sh1.92 billion.

He requested the MPs to intervene and help his office get an additional Sh750 million. From this, Sh250 million would go to a special fund for anti-corruption and counter terrorism initiatives, Sh100 million to setting up, refurbishing and equipping public prosecution directorate offices at regional, county and sub-county levels.

Haji also intends to use Sh100 million for the improvement of the Information and Communication Technology, implementation of a case management system and another Sh100 million for the new organizational structure.

Additionally, Haji also sought the House committee’s help to get Sh100 million for the purchase of new vehicles, arguing that the fleet at his office's disposal was inadequate.