By Samuel Ouma
The government of Kenya has announced that it sets to deploy measures that will increase its prison decongestion programme.
Addressing the media at Mwea Prison in the Central part of the country, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the programme is intended to reduce the population of inmates within the Kenyan prisons service facilities by 50 per cent.
Mr. Kindiki said the ministry has open consultations with stakeholders within the justice sector to promote the adoption of restorative justice practices and alternatives to incarceration.
A new Correctional Services Policy has also been developed to provide a correctional environment that supports humane inmate containment. With an emphasis on inmate welfare, this strategy suggests that each prisoner receive two new sets of uniforms, as well as a bed and a mattress.
"We will work with the private sector and well-wishers to ensure that every prisoner in this country has one bed and one mattress within the next few months," he said.
“I want to assure you of my support to make sure that we engage with the judiciary and other stakeholders in the administration of justice to make sure that we reduce congestion in prisons by 50 per cent,” added Kindiki.
He also revealed that the government aims to invest Ksh1 billion ($7.3 million) in automated agriculture within Kenya Prisons Service businesses, which is expected to increase food sufficiency.