By Jessica Nyaboke
The Witness Protection Agency (WPA) has revealed the huge cost that it takes to protect a single witness in a year.
WPA is an independent and autonomous state agency whose primary mandate is to provide special protection, on behalf of the State, to witnesses, whistleblowers, and their families who face potential risk or intimidation due to their cooperation with law enforcement, prosecution, or judicial processes—especially in cases involving organised crime, corruption, and serious offences.
According to Calvin Oready, an official from the agency, it costs up to Ksh 5.7 million per year to take care of a witness and their dependents.
Speaking in Eldoret, Oready said since the agency started operations in September 2008, they have received applications from many individuals who have expressed threats to their lives and personally came to their office to seek asylum.
He noted that to date, they have received 2,000 cases of individuals seeking to be taken in under the agency, but they have covered more than 900 witnesses.
Of the total witnesses protected by the agency, 600 have successfully testified.
“If we want people to get justice in our courts, we need to protect the witnesses and also ensure that the cases do not drag on,” said the Witness Protection Agency official.
On average, witness protection covers up to three dependents.
Meanwhile, Oready challenged journalists to adhere to their code of conduct so that they do not expose witnesses.
