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Tag: Prison reforms

  • Murkomen reaffirms gov’t commitment to prison reforms as Triple Decker Bed initiative unveiled

    Murkomen reaffirms gov’t commitment to prison reforms as Triple Decker Bed initiative unveiled

    Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen says the government remains committed to supporting comprehensive prison reforms focusing on modernisation, rehabilitation and offender re-integration.

    Speaking at a Nairobi hotel during the He-for-He Adopt a Triple Decker Bed Campaign dinner fundraiser, the CS said the envisaged reforms have adopted a rights-based approach meant to create a more just and equal society.

    He said the triple decker bed campaign as championed by Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco is a shot in the arm for the ongoing reforms targeted at the country’s correctional system.

    “The humane treatment of offenders is both a moral responsibility and a national imperative. By investing in better conditions today; such as providing adequate beds through the He-for-He Adopt a Triple Decker Bed Campaign – we invest in safer, more cohesive communities tomorrow.” Observed Murkomen.

    This even as he revealed that plans are underway to improve infrastructure within correctional facilities including building 28,000 institutional houses to ensure prison officers live in dignity.

    State Department for Correctional Services PS said she chose to embark on the triple decker initiative as an act of thanksgiving and gratitude for being appointed to serve. Besides restoring dignity to a population that is among the most vulnerable in the society, the PS said the campaign that seeks to ensure all men prisons are equipped with beds, will ensure that no one is left behind beside optimizing space, reaffirming dignity and enhancing overall health of inmates.

    “Our correctional facilities are not just places of custody; they are centers of reform, rehabilitation, and reintegration. They remind us that correction is about people, about hope, and about transformation.” Said the PS.

    Correctional Services PS Dr. Salome Beacco during the He-for-He Adopt a Triple Decker Bed Campaign dinner fundraiser.

    While urging people of goodwill to support the initiative, Archbishop Phillip Anyolo said it is a positive step towards humanizing those held within prison walls and according dignity to those in need.

    Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh said the initiative will go a long way in restoring dignity among inmates and assist in rehabilitation efforts.

    The fundraising dinner, served as a platform for the State Department for Correctional Services to rally support among stakeholders, partners and people of goodwill in supporting the noble initiative that seek to provide triple-decker beds for inmates aimed at humanely addressing congestion in prisons and providing dignified solutions for correctional facilities.

    Overcrowding in Kenyan prisons remains a critical human rights issue, contributing to poor living conditions, compromised health, and reduced dignity among inmates.

    The He-For-He Adopt-a-Triple-Decker Bed Campaign aligns with the broader objectives of the He-For-She global movement, which calls on men to stand in solidarity with women and vulnerable groups to create a more just and equal world.

  • 56 inmates to graduate with law degrees as prison reforms bear fruit

    56 inmates to graduate with law degrees as prison reforms bear fruit

    Prison reforms in the country are taking shape as the government shifts focus from punishment to rehabilitation of inmates.

    In an exclusive interview with KBC Radio Taifa, Principal Secretary for Correctional Services Salome Beacco highlighted progress in reshaping the Kenya’s prison system into a model that prepares inmates for meaningful reintegration into the society.

    Beacco noted that education programs within prisons have yielded positive outcomes, with 56 inmates set to graduate with law degrees next month through education units in correctional facilities.

    “We have an education unit that caters for formal education in prisons from primary to university levels. Next month, 56 inmates will graduate with law degrees, showing our commitment to empowering individuals through education,” said Beacco.

    The PS further confirmed plans to launch a software engineering program soon in a bid broaden opportunities for inmates to secure employment post-release.

    Additionally, the government has advanced vocational training in the 108 prison workshops with inmates now acquiring skills in fields such as welding, carpentry, and computer engineering.

    Beacco further indicated that the department is tapping into agriculture, with prisons engaging in large-scale farming of maize, tea, rice, and cotton among other crops.

    She said the recently opened maize milling station in Naivasha will help prisons feed inmates while generating revenue for the government.

    “The prison farms demonstrate that our correctional facilities can be productive contributors to the economy, and we invite partners in the agricultural sector to support our efforts,” Beacco urged.

    To improve the welfare of prison officers, PS Beacco said salary increments for officers are being implemented in line with President William Ruto’s directive issued in July this year.

    Consequently, the State Department has embarked on the construction of housing units for prison officers under the affordable housing program, with 100 units completed at Shimo la Tewa and 50 more nearing completion in Ruiru.

    “We want our officers to have decent living conditions. With a target of 28,000 housing units, we are ensuring their wellbeing, which is critical to maintaining a motivated workforce,” Beacco said, noting that she has toured over 75 facilities since taking office to assess progress and boost morale among officers.

    Kenya has a total of 137 prisons in the country, including 46 women’s prisons, and 148 probation and aftercare stations spread across the country.