State Issues Amnesty to Decongest Prisons

Offenders serving less than five year jail term will have to be vetted by probation officers and the judicially to ascertain whether they deserve pardon to be set free after being profiled by the two bodies.

Sep 11, 2024 - 13:33
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State Issues Amnesty to Decongest Prisons
Ministry of interior,department of correctional services principal secretary Dr Salome Wairimu Beacco with top prisons officers from Nairobi and Kericho outside Kericho main prisons on Tuesday.

By Nguso Taso

In a move aimed at decongesting prisons facilities in Kenya, ministry of interior has rolled out a program to set free petty offenders.

Offenders serving less than five year jail term will have to be vetted by probation officers and the judicially to ascertain whether they deserve pardon to be set free after being profiled by the two bodies.

Principal Secretary in the department of correctional services,ministry of interior Dr Salome Wairimu Beacco said the petty offenders who are contributing congestion in Kenya prisons should have their jail term reviewed and set free to go home and join their families. 

Dr Salome said chief justice Martha Koome , governors and department of corrections have rolled out a program on how to decongest prisons facilities countrywide.

Due to congestion,Dr Salome said contagious diseases were rampant due to hygienic situation in the congested prisons.

While on routine check up of Government of Kenya Prisons in Kericho town, Dr. Salome noted with concern the pathetic situation the prison was in and suggested for drastic health measures to stop the spread of contagious diseases triggered by unhealthy situations at the prisons facility.

Despite getting plenty food at the prisons,a number of prisoners said they were suffering skin diseases and other ailments triggered by dirty environment they were living in.

Dr Salome issuing some 60 mattresses to prisoners at Kericho GK prison Tuesday 

Dr Salome who was accompanied by top prisons officers from Nairobi and Kericho donated some 60 mattresses to the prisoners. 

She told those who we'll be lucky to get pardon to go home to ensure they behaved well not to find themselves back to prisons over similar offences that landed them in jail.

"Use artisan skills you learnt here to start furniture workshops that will help you to sustain your families," Dr Salome told the prisoners.

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