Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga has warned politicians that their status will not protect them from prosecution if they fuel violence, hate speech or disorder ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in Mombasa at the close of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) meeting, Mr Ingonga said the justice sector had started preparations for the polls by improving coordination among institutions tasked with safeguarding a peaceful and credible electoral process.
He warned that politicians who make inflammatory remarks or unleash political hooliganism at public gatherings will be prosecuted regardless of the positions they hold.
“We do not have categories, whether one is in government or in the opposition. Our responsibility is to peace and stability and anyone found culpable of political hooliganism will be dealt with according to the law,” he said.
Mr Ingonga said his office was working with the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and other agencies to tackle election-related offences.
He said political influence would not shield individuals accused of making inflammatory statements or inciting communities against each other.
“We only have one country and we will not allow individuals pursuing selfish interests to incite the people into a state of anarchy, those responsible will be brought to book,” he said.
His warning came as NCAJ rolled out training for its committees across the country to strengthen election preparedness and cooperation among justice-sector institutions.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, who chairs NCAJ, said early planning was necessary to build public confidence in the electoral process. She dismissed claims of a crisis within the justice sector, saying institutions were focused on reforms and improving coordination.
“There is no crisis in the justice sector, but we have had very robust discussions on how to reform and strengthen our institutions rather than undermine them,” she said.
Justice Koome said the meeting brought together leaders from across the justice system, including the Law Society of Kenya, to review reforms and prepare institutions for the 2027 elections.
“The National Council of Administration of Justice (NCAJ) reassures Kenyans that there is no crisis in the justice sector,” she said.
She added that coordination within the justice system extends to Court Users Committees established at every court station. The committees bring together representatives from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the police, the DCI, the Kenya Prisons Service, the Probation and Aftercare Service, the Children’s Department and other agencies.
Justice Koome said the committees would play a key role in improving access to justice, strengthening cooperation among institutions and ensuring the justice sector is ready to support peaceful, transparent and credible elections.
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