The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has launched the fourth round of the 160 Girls Defilement Prosecution Training, a specialized program designed to strengthen how cases of sexual offences against children are handled in Kenya.
The training aims to ensure that justice is delivered efficiently while prioritizing the rights, dignity, and psychological wellbeing of survivors.
The program features a comprehensive 12-module curriculum covering legal frameworks, equality principles, inter-agency cooperation, and strategies for managing sensitive cases in court. It brings together 30 prosecutors from across the country for a four-day intensive training that integrates legal, social, and psychological approaches to child defilement cases.
The initiative was officially opened by Acting Secretary of Public Prosecutions Alloys Kemo on Monday, who represented the Director of Public Prosecutions. Speaking to participants, Kemo emphasized the need for prosecutors to combine professional diligence with compassion. “Let this training not only refine your prosecutorial tools, but strengthen your resolve to pursue justice for child victims with trauma-informed sensitivity,” he said.
Kemo highlighted the importance of a human rights–centered and trauma-informed approach, noting that prosecutors play a crucial role in safeguarding the dignity and wellbeing of children. By applying trauma-informed practices, he said, prosecutors can prevent retraumatization of victims while also strengthening courtroom outcomes and the quality of evidence.
The ODPP delivers the training in partnership with child rights organization The Equality Effect. National Coordinator Kula Wako reaffirmed the organization’s support, noting that over 130 prosecutors have benefited from the program since its inception.
“The 160 Girls training has already equipped prosecutors with advanced tools to handle cases of child defilement effectively and sensitively. We remain committed to this partnership,” Wako said.
According to ODPP, the program aligns prosecution work with international child rights obligations, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Participants are expected to transfer the skills gained to their colleagues, creating a multiplier effect that enhances the capacity of the ODPP nationwide to respond to sexual offences against children.
Kemo reiterated that the initiative reflects the ODPP’s vision of justice that upholds the protection, dignity, and rights of every child. “Every child deserves protection, dignity, and justice. Through programs like the 160 Girls training, we are taking deliberate steps to make that vision a reality,” he said.
As the fourth cohort begins its work, the ODPP reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the justice system for children and deepening collaboration with stakeholders to combat child sexual offences across the country.