The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Kenya, in partnership with Equality Effect, has completed a nationwide training program for prosecutors to improve the handling of child defilement cases. The 160 Girls Defilement Prosecution Training Programme, which started in April 2026, equipped 569 prosecutors from all 47 counties with specialized skills. The training aimed to transform the prosecution of defilement cases involving children in Kenya.
The training program concluded with the 18th and final cohort, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen trauma-informed prosecution. Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga stated that the program represented a shift in how prosecutors understand and handle defilement cases. He emphasized that prosecutors need to understand the effects of trauma on children and the importance of a trauma-informed approach in the justice process.
The program was inspired by the landmark 160 Girls case, which exposed shortcomings in institutional responses to defilement and affirmed the constitutional rights of child victims. The case led to reforms aimed at making Kenya's justice institutions more responsive to survivors of sexual violence. The training helped prosecutors understand the experiences of children who have suffered sexual abuse and the importance of a trauma-informed approach.
The training covered various topics, including trauma-informed evidence, effective police investigations, stakeholder collaboration, and best practices in handling sexual offenses. The program used an interactive and practical approach, combining group discussions, plenary sessions, and case studies. Participants examined police investigations, evidence analysis, and the relationship between trauma and memory in children.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Ebby Maswai emphasized that understanding trauma is essential to ensuring that the pursuit of justice remains both effective and compassionate. The program challenged prosecutors to examine their assumptions, processes, and procedures when handling defilement cases. Prosecutors were urged to remain conscious of the children awaiting justice and to apply the strategies and concepts acquired in their daily work.
The training program received positive feedback from participating prosecutors, with 99.7% indicating that they would recommend the training to a colleague. Participants rated the program highly and expressed strong confidence in applying the strategies and concepts acquired. The completion of the final cohort signals the end of the current training cycle, but the broader objective is to ensure that lessons from the 160 Girls case continue to influence everyday prosecution practice.
The initiative places the experiences and dignity of child survivors at the center of efforts to strengthen Kenya's criminal justice response to sexual violence. The ODPP and Equality Effect aim to ensure that prosecutors and other justice sector actors apply the law fairly, professionally, and consistently. The training program is a step towards providing justice to child survivors of defilement in Kenya.
Key points
- 569 prosecutors from all 47 counties in Kenya were trained in a trauma-informed approach to handle child defilement cases.
- The training program was inspired by the landmark 160 Girls case, which led to reforms in Kenya's justice institutions.
- The program aims to ensure that lessons from the 160 Girls case continue to influence everyday prosecution practice in Kenya.
