ODPP Launches Prison Decongestion Initiative at Nairobi’s Industrial Area Prison

By Samuel Ouma

In a collaborative effort to address overcrowding in Kenya's correctional facilities, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has launched a significant prison decongestion initiative at the Nairobi Remand and Allocation Maximum Security Prison, commonly known as Industrial Area Prison.

The initiative, aimed at reducing the prison population, marks a crucial step towards ensuring that the country's prison facilities operate within their recommended capacities.

Speaking at the launch, Ms. Dorcas Rugut, the acting regional head for Nairobi Region at the ODPP, highlighted the importance of this initiative in maintaining the functionality and humaneness of Kenya's prison system.

"This initiative is a significant step towards ensuring that our prison facilities operate within their recommended capacities, safeguarding the dignity and rights of all individuals within the criminal justice system," she stated.

Ms. Rugut explained that the ODPP has already implemented several policies to support prison decongestion, including plea bargaining agreements and diversion policies. She urged remandees to use these policies to expedite their trials, emphasizing the need to avoid unnecessary adjournments, especially when witnesses are available to testify.

The prison decongestion initiative will be rolled out in two phases. The first phase involves the review of bond and bail terms for un-convicted individuals currently on remand. This phase aims to identify cases where bail or bond conditions can be adjusted to allow for the release of eligible individuals. The second phase will focus on reviewing sentences by High Court judges to reduce prison terms for certain offenders.

The Industrial Area Prison, established in 1911, has a capacity of 2,500 inmates. However, the facility currently operates at 200% of its intended capacity, exacerbating the challenges faced by inmates and prison staff.

Following the launch, a court session was held within the prison premises, where the presiding magistrate reviewed three bail and bond terms, releasing the individuals on free bond. This move was lauded as a positive outcome of the new initiative, offering a glimpse of the potential impact of the exercise if implemented nationwide.

The ODPP's decongestion exercise is expected to be expanded to other prisons across the country in the coming months to address the systemic issues contributing to overcrowding and improving the overall efficiency of the criminal justice system.