The inhumanity of strip searches in prison

By Judith Akinyi

Jailers have a big challenge in making sure prisoners do not bring contraband, otherwise known as marufuku inside prison. For this reason, the guards conduct strip searches. All new inmates must submit to a strip search upon induction. They surrender all their personal belongings before undergoing a naked physical search.

The inmates, young and old, have to queue for the procedure.

Some young ones get the opportunity to see an old woman naked for the first time. Regrettably, in cases where the mother and daughter have been booked together, the daughter sees her mother’s nakedness. Most are not used to the cold brutal atmosphere of prison but the guards on the other hand find nothing unusual about this.

Strip searches are degrading and humiliating. It is shocking particularly for new inmates because it is done every time you return from court hearing or leave your unit for any reason or just for security reasons. The officers inspect the inmates’ clothes thoroughly and then begin to inspect the body.

Once you are stark naked, you are ordered to lift your breasts (for those who have very large drooping breasts) one after the other. They order you to lift your feet, open your mouth, lift your arms, squat and then cough.

Perverse pleasure

The officers can do a body cavity search but they must have a strong probable cause to believe that something is hidden there. They examine the private parts and make you spread your legs. For women, if you are having periods, it can be awful.

I believe that the officers should never do body cavity searches. Only a medical professional should perform such a task. On the other hand, some officers take perverse pleasure in humiliating the inmate once fully naked.

Perhaps this helps them teach the inmate a firm lesson about submitting to their authority. Inmates may be subjected to cell inspection and random strip-searches at any time.
Isn’t it ironical then that the very guards who ensure inmates don’t traffic contraband are the same ones caught trafficking? It is true that the guards’ salaries and living conditions are pathetic. I know that the Government has been trying to improve on it but it is not enough. The officer who was allegedly caught trafficking contraband recently had a lot to say concerning this. True to his words he may not be the only one.

My worry is that he is likely to become a mfungwa very soon. Will he be subjected to strip searches and cavity searches? Will he be made to squat during headcount? Is he likely to serve his sentence at Kamiti Maximum Prison where he used to exercise his powers? Is he likely to be given long court dates as he waits endlessly in remand prison?

The writer is an ex-prisoner.