On a significant day for Kenya’s legal sector, President William Ruto made the official announcement regarding the appointment of Renson Mulele Ingonga as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
This decision was finalized after the country’s legislative assembly, the Parliament, endorsed his nomination. The gazette notice, which served as an official record of this appointment, indicated that Mr. Ingonga will serve in this critical role for the upcoming eight years. This implies that his term will conclude in September 2031, a time when his services and impact will be evaluated.
The power to make this appointment comes from Article 157 (2) of the Kenyan Constitution. It is further guided by the specific provisions stated in section 8 (8) of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, 2013. The gazette notice verbatim states: “In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 157 (2) of the Constitution and in accordance with the procedure set out under section 8 (8) of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, 2013, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces, appoint Renson Mulele Ingonga as the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
Renson Mulele Ingonga’s appointment was realized after an extensive process of review and recommendation by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC). They conducted their analysis and subsequently proposed Mulele for this esteemed role. Mulele will now assume the significant responsibilities of his predecessor, Noordin Haji, who has since been designated as the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Before this illustrious appointment, Ingonga served with dedication as the Assistant Director at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Additionally, his leadership capabilities were evident as he helmed the North Eastern Region’s office with aplomb. With his educational background shining through, Ingonga possesses the credentials befitting of the DPP role. He is recognized as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and boasts of a Master’s Degree in Law from the University of Nairobi. Further amplifying his legal prowess is his Post-Graduate Diploma, which he earned from the prestigious Kenya School of Law (KSL).
As the DPP, Mulele’s pivotal duty will involve initiating and managing the prosecution of various cases that were previously under the supervision of his predecessor, Noordin Haji. This responsibility not only demands legal expertise but also immense dedication and integrity.
It’s worth noting that the journey to this appointment was not a straightforward one for Mulele. He faced fierce competition from numerous other esteemed candidates. Notable names in the competition included former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner, Thomas Letangule, renowned lawyers Danstan Omari and advocate Taib Ali Taib, among others. The extensive list of contenders also featured individuals such as Jacinta Nyamosi, Victor Mule, Tabitha Ouya, David Ruto, Andayi Francis, Winston Ngaira, Peter Mailayi, Lilian Okumu-Obuo, Jacob Ondari, James Ndegwa, and David Okachi. However, with his appointment, it’s evident that Mulele’s credentials and experience outshone them all.