Who is Noordin Haji From DPP to Director-General of National Intelligence Servic.
Noordin Mohamed Haji, OGW, CBS (born 3 July 1973), is a Kenyan lawyer and civil servant currently serving as the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). He previously held the position of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from 2018 to 2023.
Haji was born in Malindi, Kenya, to Mohamed Yusuf Haji, a prominent politician who served in various government roles. Due to his father’s career, Haji attended multiple primary and secondary schools across the country.
He later pursued higher education at the University of Wales, earning both a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws degree.
In 1999, he was admitted to the bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
He began his legal career in 2000 as state counsel at the State Law Office before joining the National Intelligence Service (NIS), where he rose through the ranks to become the Deputy Director in charge of the Counter-Organised Crime Unit.
On 28 March 2018, Haji was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta.
His early tenure was widely lauded, earning him accolades such as Jurist of the Year from the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists and the Leadership Integrity Award from Transparency International.
However, his tenure ended on a controversial note, as the withdrawal of several high-profile corruption cases against politicians drew sharp criticism.
This backlash led to Transparency International rescinding its award.
In May 2023, President William Ruto nominated Haji as Director-General of the NIS. Following approval by the National Assembly, he was sworn into office on 14 June
2023.
