Nairobi — The Attorney General has given more teeth to the proposed Witness Protection Agency under a new Bill he has published.

The agency will now have powers to summon anybody with information to assist in investigations and will play a crucial role in post-election violence trials.

International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo had earlier written to both the government and the Pre-Trial Chamber, expressing his concern about the threats the possible witnesses were already receiving from unknown persons, probably perpetrators of the violence.

This means the Bill is ready for debate when Parliament reopens on February 23. The agency's employees will be protected from assault or obstruction, with heavy penalties against culprits.

These are some of the recommendations contained in the Witness Protection (Amendment) Bill 2010 which AG Amos Wako has published. Any obstruction will be an offence attracting a fine not exceeding Sh500,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.

"A person who fails to comply with a direction of the agency commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding Sh50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both," the Bill reads in part.

"The minister responsible for Internal Security may, on the request of the director, by notice in the gazette or in any other manner as it may be necessary in the circumstances, prohibit or restrict access to land or premises under the control of the agency," states the published Bill.

The Bill's proposals will aid changes to the current Witness Protection Act passed in 2006. The changes are contained in the Kenya Gazette supplement issue of last Friday, February 5. This agency is, first and foremost, meant to protect witnesses in post-election violence trials against the masterminds of the violence and other related cases, among them corruption.