Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have welcomed International Criminal Court (ICC) Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan to Kenya ahead of a regional conference on accountability for conflict-related sexual violence.

According to a statement by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Khan is in the country to attend the conference in Nairobi, which aims to strengthen accountability for sexual violence committed during conflicts and periods of instability.

The conference will focus on the handling of conflict-related sexual violence cases, particularly the capacity of investigators and prosecutors to investigate and prosecute such crimes.

"Kenya is hosting the regional conference following the DPP’s successful advocacy and lobbying during his engagement in the Netherlands in March 2024 with a follow-up in April 2026," the statement revealed.

The initiative seeks to strengthen the capacity of justice sector actors to handle cases involving conflict-related sexual violence and improve accountability for crimes committed during conflict and periods of instability.

The conference comes amid efforts to strengthen justice mechanisms for victims of sexual violence linked to conflict, where investigations and prosecutions can present complex challenges.

Such cases may require specialised investigative skills, effective collection and preservation of evidence, and coordination among justice sector institutions to ensure that alleged perpetrators are held accountable through lawful processes.

The ODPP said the initiative seeks to equip investigators and prosecutors with the capacity to handle these cases and reinforce efforts to address impunity for crimes committed during periods of conflict and instability.

"Kenya is the second country in Africa to host the conference, underscoring its commitment to strengthening justice mechanisms and promoting accountability for conflict-related sexual violence," added the statement.

Ingonga’s engagement with international justice institutions forms part of efforts to build cooperation and improve the handling of serious crimes that may affect victims and communities during periods of instability.

Khan’s participation also brings national and international justice actors together around the objective of improving accountability for conflict-related sexual violence.

The conference is expected to provide a platform for strengthening investigators’ and prosecutors’ knowledge and practical capacity while promoting more effective approaches to ensuring justice for victims.

The ODPP said the regional initiative reflects Kenya’s continued commitment to supporting accountability for conflict-related sexual violence and strengthening mechanisms for investigating and prosecuting such offences.