By: Bramuel Wanzala
In a move set to transform juvenile justice in Kenya, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has officially launched the Guide to Child-Friendly Interviews, marking a decisive shift toward a “do no harm” approach in child-related cases.
The guide seeks to protect children , whether victims, witnesses, or in conflict with the law ;from the trauma often associated with legal proceedings, while ensuring justice is effectively served.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Alloys Kemo, Secretary Prosecution Services, described the guide as more than a procedural manual, calling it a “moral compass” designed to align Kenyan prosecutions with international human rights standards.
Reflecting on the evolution of the justice system, Kemo recalled a case from 15 years ago in Kilifi involving the sexual exploitation of children, a time when specialised children’s divisions and formal guidelines were absent.
“We were prosecuting based on our innate wisdom our feelings and instincts,” he said. “The tools being introduced today are essential for delivering justice more efficiently and humanely.”
The guide introduces a structured, trauma-informed framework aimed at preventing secondary victimization, the psychological harm caused by the legal process itself. Key measures include video-recorded interviews to reduce repeated recounting of traumatic experiences, the use of age-appropriate and non-leading questions, and the formal involvement of psychologists, intermediaries, and social workers to support children throughout the process.
Kemo revealed that the ODPP has already established child-friendly interview rooms in nine key locations across the country to support the implementation of the new standards.
He urged prosecutors and justice sector stakeholders to move beyond simply reading the document and to fully internalise its principles.
“Justice for children must never come at the expense of their well-being,” he said.
The initiative has received support from the State Department for Children’s Services. Speaking on behalf of Principal Secretary CPA Caren Ogengo, Deputy Director Ruth Njiguna noted that legal processes can be intimidating for children and stressed the importance of trauma-informed interviewing.
Lawyers Without Borders Executive Director Jessica Ryckman emphasized that child interviews often determine whether justice is achieved, warning that poor interviewing practices can result in re-traumatization and unreliable testimony.
Aligned with the Children Act of 2022, the guide provides prosecutors with a standardised, child-centred roadmap. Through the establishment of a dedicated Child Justice Unit and a pool of specialised prosecutors, the ODPP aims to embed dignity, protection, and hope at every stage of the criminal justice process.
The launch concluded with a call for all justice sector actors to embrace the guide not only as a policy document, but as a statement of shared values in protecting children.
