Quick Answer
No single body fights corruption alone. The EACC investigates it, the ODPP prosecutes it, the DCI provides police investigation, and the courts decide — a chain in which each link has a different job.
Key facts
- The EACC investigates corruption but cannot prosecute.
- The ODPP decides on and conducts prosecutions.
- The DCI is the police’s investigative arm.
- The Judiciary’s anti-corruption division tries the cases.
The EACC: the investigator
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), anchored in Article 79, investigates corruption and economic crime, enforces Chapter Six, educates the public, and recovers stolen assets. Crucially, it cannot prosecute — it investigates and refers cases to the ODPP.
The ODPP: the prosecutor
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), established under Article 157, decides whether to charge and conducts prosecutions in court. It prosecutes the corruption cases the EACC investigates, and can direct investigative agencies to look into allegations.
The DCI and the courts
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is the National Police Service’s investigative arm, handling criminal investigations broadly. The Judiciary, through its Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division, then tries the cases and decides guilt.
Why the chain matters
Splitting investigation, prosecution and judgment is a safeguard — no single body can both pursue and condemn. But it also means a case passes through several hands, which is why coordination between agencies (and sustained public attention) matters so much.
Why this matters to you
When you hear that someone was “cleared” or “charged,” knowing which body did what tells you what actually happened: an EACC finding is not a conviction — only a court convicts.
Frequently asked questions
Can the EACC prosecute or jail people?
No — it investigates and refers cases; the ODPP prosecutes and the courts decide.
Who prosecutes corruption cases?
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
What does the DCI do?
It is the police’s criminal-investigation arm.
Sources & references
- Constitution of Kenya 2010, Articles 79 and 157 — klrc.go.ke
- Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission — eacc.go.ke
- Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, 2013 — kenyalaw.org