The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji on Wednesday clarified the fresh directives issued regarding touting charges.
Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke, DPP Haji revealed that his office would dismiss touting charge cases unless presented with conclusive evidence of an offence that endangered other motorists.
“I have directed that all touting offences should be eligible diversion save for where a comprehensive file that meets the evidentiary threshold has been compiled and submitted to us for direction,” stated an excerpt of a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police.
Mr Haji revealed that traffic-related offences constituted 40% of all cases registered and prosecuted in the courts.
He went on to disclose that his office had realized that 19% of all traffic charges were in fact touting charges.
The DPP’s office described touting charges as non-moving offences that cannot be directly linked to threatening or endangering the lives of other road users
While speaking to a Kenyans.co.ke journalist, the chief prosecutor made it clear that his office would disregard any future trivial touting charges that lacked actionable evidence.
“It means they must have evidence, otherwise we shall not approve any charges,” he asserted.
In addition, he made it clear that the fresh directive was meant as a safeguard against straining the criminal justice system.
DPP Haji’s orders came in the background of numerous cases of touts alleging harassment by the police in the course of their work.
