Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo/HANDOUTThe government has proposed the establishment of a National Victim Protection Service as part of reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s framework for protecting and supporting victims.
The proposed service is contained in the Victim Protection (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to transform the existing victim protection framework by introducing an institution with greater independence, clearer accountability and stronger management capacity.
In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Interior said significant progress had been made towards strengthening victim protection following the 15th National Development Implementation Committee – Governance and Public Administration Sub-Committee meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo and brought together Principal Secretaries and senior government officials from across the Governance and Public Administration sector.
Under the proposed reforms, the National Victim Protection Service would be responsible for coordinating victim-support services and strengthening governance, financing, reporting and accountability arrangements.
"It will also provide for the establishment of offices and branches to bring services closer to citizens, enhanced mechanisms for identifying vulnerable victims, and a Victims Charter setting out the rights, services and assistance available to victims," the statement said.
The measures are intended to address gaps in the existing system by ensuring that protections provided for under the law can be accessed by victims in practice.
The committee said the reforms were part of broader efforts to ensure that government policies, laws and development programmes translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
“Approved policies must translate into action, enacted laws must be understood and enforced, completed infrastructure must be put to use, and Government commitments must deliver tangible benefits to citizens,” the ministry stated.
The proposed National Victim Protection Service would therefore provide a more coordinated institutional structure for responding to the needs of victims and ensuring that available support services are effectively delivered.
The Victims Charter would further provide victims with clearer information on their rights and the services and assistance available to them under the proposed framework.
“The reforms are intended to move victim protection beyond rights guaranteed on paper to a system capable of delivering those rights in practice,” the statement said.
The Ministry said the meeting reviewed progress in implementing key government policies, legislative measures and development programmes.
The committee meeting was attended by Principal Secretary for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs Judith Pareno, Principal Secretary for Cabinet Affairs Dr Idris Dokota, Principal Secretary for Correctional Services Dr Salome Beacco, Principal Secretary for National Government Coordination Ahmed Ibrahim and Solicitor General Shadrack Mose, among other senior officials.
