More Reforms in prison facilities take shape, says PS

Correctional services PS Mary Muthoni on March 18, 2023 [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

Some 7,281 petty offenders who were held in different correctional facilities throughout the country have been released in the last three years.

Further, the process of relocating Kitale Medium GK prison to pave the way for the expansion of Kitale Town has been initiated.

In addition, plans to relocate Homa Bay, Kisii and Tharaka Nithi Prisons are also underway.

The Principal Secretary for Correctional Services Mary Muthoni said this initiative are aimed at decongesting prison facilities.

The PS mentioned a severe overcrowding issue, leading to significant challenges for management, food, medical care, and sanitation facilities.

"We envisage a shift in the correctional doctrine by promoting alternatives to imprisonment, whether through diversion, probation orders and other non-custodial measures,'' Muthoni said.

She was speaking in Nairobi while giving an account of the first 100 days in office. The PS said the high occupancy rate makes it difficult to maintain the safety and security of both the inmates and the prison staff.

This she said results in an increased risk of violence, disease outbreaks, and mental health issues among inmates, which can further exacerbate the challenges faced by the prison system.

Muthoni noted that through the Judiciary, there is a move to review cases of mothers inmates.

''We have since submitted 6,547 sentence review reports to High Courts with 1,685 of the prisoners being released and placed under Central Statistics Office Programme,'' Muthoni added.

The PS said, in its effort to improve the living conditions of offenders and children accompanying their mothers to prison, the government had donated 5, 077 mattresses, as well as various foodstuffs, toiletries, blankets, water tanks, and dignity packs.

The PS said, through the process, a total of 443,025 trees across prison institutions have been planted to address climate change.

She reiterated that, as part of Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) retooling exercise, 65 Kenya Prison Service officer teachers have so far been trained.

She further said 255 prisoners have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society through allowing them to sit for National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) exams to obtain their grade test certification.

''Disbursement of Sh2.1 million in educational support to 231 probationers in 34 counties. We have also partnered with organizations such as Philemon Trust Foundation and Faraja Foundation to support an additional 24 probationers,'' she said.

PS further said the State Department will continue to play its role to reform the inmates through both formal and informal training in order to make them productive when released from custody.

''The objective of this initiative is to give these individuals a second chance and help them reintegrate back into their communities,'' she said.

The PS noted that prison land will also be cultivated to enhance food security in the country.

In partnership with devolved units, space for the establishment of showrooms and prison enterprises in Lamu, Kwale, and Mombasa to promote the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society have been available.

In Prison Enterprise modernization, an extension consisting of bakery and tailoring units have been launched at Langata Women prison workshop.

Some 56 sewing machines as well as computer hardware and software have been distributed to various correctional facilities in helping achieve digitalization of prison and probation data and information.