President William Ruto on Thursday, August 17 nominated Renson Mulele Ingonga to be the country’s next Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Through a memo transmitted to the National Assembly, the president described the nominee as a qualified candidate for the job.
Consequently, the Head of State asked the House to vet Mulele according to the law.
Before his nomination, Mulele was a senior assistant DPP in charge of the Northeastern region. He was based at the Office of the DPP.
Moreover, the nominee, from Kakamega county, is a lawyer by profession and was admitted to the bar in the year 2005.
The DPP’s position fell vacant after President Ruto appointed Noordin Haji as the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Following the exit of Haji, the Selection Panel advertised the post and shortlisted 15 candidates including Mulele.
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Other candidates included Danstan Omari, Thomas Lentangule, Jacinta Nyaboke Nyamosi, Victor Vinyl Mule, Tib Ali and David Mogunde Okachi.
In addition, Shadrack Mose-led team shortlisted Winston Aswan Ngaira, Peter Mung’athia Mailanyi, Lilian Akinyi Okumu-Obuo, Jacob Nyakundi Ondari, James Whom Ndegwa, Tabitha Wanyama Ouya and David Kiplagat Ruto.
Furthermore, other members of the Selection Panel were Public Service Principal Secretary Mary Kimonye, EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Richard Onsongo, Roseline Odede and Bush Obwocha.
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Role of the DPP
The Office of the DPP institutes and undertakes the prosecution of criminal matters and all other related incidents in accordance with Article 157 of the Constitution.
Moreover, the core functions of the ODPP include prosecution of those charged by the police and other investigative agencies with criminal offences while upholding, protecting, and promoting human and constitutional rights.
Furthermore, the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Kenya and the ODPP takes place through four departments namely, Offences Against the Person, Economic, International & Emerging Crimes, County Affairs and Regulatory Prosecution, and Central Facilitation Services.
Previous DPPs include Philip Murgor and Keriako Tobiko who later served as Environment Cabinet Secretary.