United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The UNODC Regional Office in East Africa (ROEA)

UNODC Strengthens Efficacy in the Administration of Justice in Lamu County

Nairobi (Kenya), 5 July, 2021 - The European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime through the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery in Kenya (PLEAD), officially handed over a 10-seater passenger boat dubbed, MV ADIL, to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Lamu.

The event was presided by the EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i, H.E. Ms. Katrin Hagemann, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, Head of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, UNODC, Ms. Charity Kagwi and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Ms. Mandisa Mashologu.

The event was also graced by members of the public and over 70 delegates from government, civil society and development partners.

The need to provide support to the ODPP in purchasing the boat was identified during the service week that was supported by PLEAD in March 2019. The service week was part of the ODPP-led Project ‘All for Justice Phase II’, whose core mandate was to enhance access to justice and reduce the number of pre-trial detainees. 

The ODPP are required to prosecute cases in the seven surrounding, and at times far flung islands, including Faza, Kiunga, Kiwayu and Pate during the mobile court sessions, but had no means of transportation, and therefore relied on other actors to facilitate them and the prosecution witnesses. The boat will increase efficiency at the ODPP and consequently enhance access to justice. 

Speaking at the noble boat handover ceremony, H.E. Ms. Katrin Hagemann, noted that the acquisition of the boat would increase operational capacity at the ODPP. “The European Union is proud to have supported the ODPP through the PLEAD Partnership. PLEAD is anchored in the Kenya Vision 2030 strategy and supports government reforms that are transforming the criminal justice sector.” she underscored.

Mr. Noordin Haji, was confident that MV ADIL, which was handed over at the KPA Lamu Jetty, would aid in addressing the delivery of justice to residents, to ensure justice was not delayed. He further noted that the boat signaled a commitment to cooperate and collaborate with justice actors across the criminal justice system.

Ms. Charity Kagwi termed the handover ceremonial event as a great leap in the journey towards access to justice within the Lamu region in line with SDG 16: the promotion of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. 

“We are honoured to take part in improving the delivery of justice services and expanding the use of alternatives to imprisonment in Kenya. Propelled by our Vision for Africa 2030, we endeavor to strengthen crime prevention, enhance justice, address organized crime, ensure a balanced response to drugs, improve the rule of law and bolster resilience,” said Ms. Kagwi.

PLEAD recognizes that the basis of guaranteeing the rule of law, is addressing the inequalities in access to justice. It tackles and traces different links in the justice chain, from prosecution to sentencing to reintegration of ex-offenders in the society.

UNODC also attended a legal aid clinic at Mkunguni Square, in Lamu Town, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme. Legal aid is essential in ensuring equal access to justice for all, as provided for by Article 48 of the Constitution of Kenya and SDG 16. Through PLEAD, the UNDP is working with the justice actors to expand access to legal aid. 

Launched in 2018, PLEAD is a five-year Justice Sector program, and is the largest of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa and has committed 34.15 million Euros to government reforms and capacity building within the criminal justice sector.

For more information, please contact: 

European Union - delegation-kenya-press@eeas.europa.eu 

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions - info@odpp.go.ke

UN Office on Drugs and Crime – unodc-plead@un.org