Gaps Influencing Implementation of the Witness Protection System in Kenya

Abstract

The objective of the paper was to establish the gaps influencing implementation of the Kenyan Witness Protection system. The study sought to achieve the following specific objectives: To establish the staffing capacity in the within protection program in Kenya; to examine the level of financial investment by the National government to the witness protection program; and to investigate the level of technological investment in witness protection program in Kenya. Data was collected from select key informants drawn from the Attorney General office, the Law Society of Kenya, The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the Kenya Police, The Ministry of Gender (Children’s Department), Directorate of Witness Protection Agency, the Children’s Court, and the representatives from the National Assembly. The findings of the study were expected to manifest how implementation of the witness protection programme in Kenya is influenced by both human and infrastructural capacity aspects. The findings of the study showed that there is lack of training resources such as facilities, training institutions and trainers. There are also limited financial resources to support the program attributed to poor funding and high cost of the program. The study found that there are poor infrastructural facilities to reach the witnesses.