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Tag: PS Salome Beacco

  • State department for correctional services launches monthly tree planting drive

    State department for correctional services launches monthly tree planting drive

    The State Department for Correctional Services has launched a monthly tree planting campaign.

    Speaking while launching the campaign at the Kitengela GK Prison, Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco said the exercise, that will take place every first Thursday of the month, is in line with the national tree growing and landscape restoration campaign as championed by President William Ruto.

    “This noble initiative, championed by our President His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, calls upon each of us to rise to the occasion, to safeguard our environment, and to invest in a future where our future generation will breathe cleaner air, drink purer water, and walk beneath the shade of trees that we will plant today.” Observed the PS.

    She said the State Department remains committed in leading the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Program, with a goal of cultivating 100 million trees annually with over 81,394 seedlings already planted within prison lands, about 40,000 donated to organizations and communities, and over 10,000 sold for further distribution.

    “Let this be our collective pledge: that we will not just plant trees, but we will grow them and percolate down environmental stewardship within our spaces of influence,” urged the PS.

    During Thursday’s launch, over 3,000 indigenous trees were planted at the Kitengela GK Prison, with the launch happening concurrently across all correctional facilities in the country.

    Present during the ceremony was Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh, Probation and Aftercare Secretary Dr. Christine Obondi and other staff from the state Department for Correctional Services.

  • 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.

  • Gov’t to partner with State, Non-State Actors for major prison reforms

    Gov’t to partner with State, Non-State Actors for major prison reforms

    The Government through the State department for Correctional Services is partnering with state and non-state actors in ongoing reforms targeting correctional facilities and prison industries.

    Speaking during the opening of a counselling centre and the renovated upholstery section at the Kamiti maximum prison, Principal Secretary State Department for Correctional Services Dr. Salome Beacco said the Kenya kwanza administration is working with like-minded organizations in a bid to rehabilitate and modernize facilities within correctional facilities.

    Beacco added that equipping inmates with requisite skills will ease their integration back to the society once released.

    The PS at the same time called upon well-wishers to partner with the government in ensuring that Correctional facilities are modernized to have a conducive environment for inmates.

    Beacco, however, said the state department is working with NITA to ensure that those who are studying various courses in their workshops undertake exams in a bid to have certification to ensure they are able to establish their skills once they complete their sentences.

    She said through affordable housing, the State department will launch a program which will see officers in prison get better houses where at the same time they can own their homes.

    The PS further called on Kenyans to visit prisons’ showrooms and shop quality goods manufactured in Correctional centres in an effort to support the Buy Kenya Build Kenya Initiative.

  • PS Beacco lays out ambitious plan to improve, decongest prisons

    PS Beacco lays out ambitious plan to improve, decongest prisons

    Correctional Services PS Salome Beacco has unveiled an ambitious reform agenda aimed at modernising and enhancing the efficiency of correctional facilities across the country.

    Kenya has a total of 135 prisons, which the PS says are in dire need of renovations.

    More accommodation facilities are especially required for mothers with children, along with improvements to water and sanitation systems.

    According to the PS, the department will shift its focus to rehabilitating offenders by providing them with skills that can enable them to generate income once released from prison.

    To achieve this, new daycare facilities, education and training centers, and vocational training workshops will be set up to equip offenders with various skills, including masonry and food production technology.

    “Offenders should be able to work and contribute to the economy while still in prison. They should come out of prison with something to sustain them after incarceration,” stated the PS.

    On the social protection front, Beacco says resources will be allocated to acquire medical supplies and build mental health wings in nine maximum security prisons.

    Already, the Magereza Level 4 Hospital has officially been handed over to the Correctional Department and is poised to improve the overall healthcare of both staff and inmates.

    The 150-bed facility boasts two major theatres, an accident and emergency unit, maternity and dental services, and a morgue among others.

    In a bid to modernise operations, plans are underway to automate all correctional services, including revenue collection and offender records, as well as security upgrades, which will include the installation of CCTV cameras, scanners, and metal detectors.

    The department further intends to establish e-courts in the 135 facilities in collaboration with the Judiciary to ensure swift access to justice for offenders.

    “We are working on ways to address the population of prisons in general by using other alternative means to solve disputes, such as releasing them on parole and non-custodial sentences,” said Beacco.

    Agricultural productivity within prisons is also set for a significant boost, with plans to expand farmland, mechanize operations, and increase capital investment.

    In addition, efforts to enhance training programs are in place to improve agricultural techniques by introducing irrigation systems and post-harvest storage facilities that will ensure a more robust food supply chain within the prison system.

    “Retraining programs for instructors and increased seed capital for raw materials will support these initiatives, ensuring that prison industries can produce marketable goods efficiently,” said Beacco.

    The industrial capabilities of prisons are also set for a major upgrade with the revamping of the leather industry at Kitengela and Kamiti Prisons, while modern tools and equipment will be introduced to 108 workshops in various prisons.

    Through the affordable housing program, prisons are set to benefit with at least 28,000 units to be constructed for prison staff.

    And as Kenya races to achieve the 15 billion trees target by 2032, PS Beacco says the department plans to plant 100 million trees annually within correctional facilities to mitigate the effects of climate change.

    The 2024-Economic Survey indicates that the total number of committed prisoners increased by 46.3% to 248,061, resulting in an increase in the prison population per 100,000 population from 329,100 in 2022 to 481,400 in 2023.

    Unconvicted prisoners accounted for the majority of the prison population at 67.7% in 2023.

  • Prison farms and enterprises set for revamp

    Prison farms and enterprises set for revamp

    The government has prioritised the regeneration of prison industries and farms as part of ongoing efforts to revamp the enterprise.

    Speaking at the Prison Staff Training College in Ruiru during a meeting with Kenya Prisons Service farm managers and in charge of industries, Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco said restoration of the enterprises remain at the heart of ongoing reforms targeting correctional facilities.

    According to the PS, the envisaged reforms within prison industries and farms, will ensure inmates benefit from vocational and agricultural training resulting in comprehensive rehabilitation and reformation of offenders with the aim of easing their integration back into the society after serving their respective sentences.

    “The fact that 8,500 inmates were trained in various vocational trades where 25 borstal boys and 5 borstal girls were trained and tested with a further 56 borstal boys waiting for trade tests exam in December 2024 series is testament, that our correctional facilities are more than just places of confinement, but also avenues for rehabilitation and personal development.” She observed.

    In efforts aimed at ensuring self-sustenance amid budget constraints, the PS said the State Department is working on modernizing Prison industries to enhance their capacity and competitiveness.

    This even as she urged those tasked with managing the enterprises to improve standards and improve production to sustain operations across prison farms and industries.

    “How can we be better organized to produce more and do things better?” she posed.

    On environment and climate change mitigation, the PS urged farm managers to work towards achieving the target of planting 100 million trees annually, expand orchards and produce more tree seedlings.

    “In pursuant to the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda the farming programs are designed to support food production,” observed the PS.

    Under the National Landscape and Ecosystem restoration to grow 15 billion trees by 2032, there are currently 2,747,095 seedlings in the Kenya Prisons Service nurseries of which 1,232,660 are mature for planting while some 670,072 seedlings have been planted within prisons’ land in the last three months.

    The enterprise has also initiated programs to produce potato in Nyandarua, Maize milling at the Naivasha prison, Rice milling in Mwea as well as the establishment of orchards in Kamiti, Ngeria, Nakuru Main prison, Makueni and Maranjau prisons.

    In aligning with the government digital payment platform (e-citizen) the PS announced that the prison enterprise has amalgamated all 210 pay bills to one government pay bill 222222 for all revenue collection with all payments now cashless through eCitizen, EFT and corporate cheques.

  • State Department for Correctional Services donates in support of flood victims

    State Department for Correctional Services donates in support of flood victims

    The State Department for Correctional Services Wednesday donated food and other non-food items to the Kenya Red Cross Society to support those affected by ongoing floods that continue to wreak havoc across parts of the country.

    Handing over the donation, valued at Ksh2,419,000 to the Kenya Red Cross Society, Correctional Services PS Salome Beacco said the contributions are meant to ease the burden of the affected especially those displaced from their houses.

    “As the state department for Correctional Services, we have come together as individuals and raised some funds to help buy food and other non-food items for those affected by ongoing rains.  In our small way, we are giving back to the society, by supporting those in need.  We are calling on Kenyans of goodwill to come and join us in supporting those affected by floods.” Implored the PS.

    The donation included 600 (50 kilograms bags) of maize flour, 10 (90 kilograms) bags of dry maize, 300 kilograms of sugar, 10 (90 kilograms) bags of beans, 30 (25 kilograms) bags of rice, 10 (90 kilograms) bags of green grams, 20 cartons of sanitary towels, 10 cartons of bar soap, 10 bales of tissue paper and 10 dozen of body moisturizing oil.

    She said the government remains committed to supporting those affected by floods with the president having already announced an elaborate plan to ease their suffering.

    Speaking after receiving the donation, Acting Kenya Red Cross Society Deputy Secretary General Joe Mbalu said the gesture by the State Department for Correctional Services will go a long way in helping some of the affected families in their recovery process.

    Government Deputy Spokesperson, Gabriel Muthuma assured those affected of government support even as he urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and adhere to government’s advisories including moving out of riparian land during the rainy season.

    The PS was accompanied by her counterparts Principal Secretary, State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action Anne Wang’ombe and Aurelia Rono, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Parliamentary Affairs. Also present was Commissioner General of Prisons Brigadier (Rtd.) John Warioba.

    Since late March, the country has witnessed heavy rains resulting in widespread flooding in most parts, resulting in loss of life and damage to infrastructure.

  • PS Salome Beacco holds meeting with staff, roots for shared values and excellence

    PS Salome Beacco holds meeting with staff, roots for shared values and excellence

    Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco has challenged staff working at the state department to be part of ongoing transformative agenda within the correctional system.

    Speaking at separate meetings with staff working across the various sections, the PS said the sessions with staff are meant to enhance synergy in the state department for correctional services adding that human resource remain a critical pillar in envisaged reforms that target eight priority areas.

    “We should know we are not doing anybody a favor for working. It is a matter of justice that we do what we are supposed to do. Collaboration and teamwork yield optimal results. Let’s be committed.” The PS observed.

    “It is important that I engage you so that I can contextualize your duties and needs for effective delivery of the state department’s mandate.” She added.

    The PS said she remains committed to addressing the various issues raised by staff including working environment, mental wellness and personal development.

    “The place where you work should be a safe space. Let’s not have a toxic work environment.  I encourage everyone to undertake continuous training for personal development and improvement”, she implored.

    Observing that financial gain should not be the motivating factor for working in the state department, the PS said positive attitude is fundamentally important in effective delivery of services.

    “I want to fashion a state department of excellence, where each and every one individually makes the effort of attaining the status.” Said the PS.

    The priority agenda as spearheaded by the PS include reforms targeted at social protection, environment and climate change mitigation, housing, institutional infrastructure and operational capacity, offender rehabilitation, reformation and re-integration coordination, modernization of prisons industry, administrative, legal and policy framework support as well as revitalization of prison farms.

    The State department for Correctional Services has initiated a host of reforms aimed at decongesting and improving living conditions within prisons including legislative review for both custodial and non-custodial services, adoption of alternatives to imprisonment for low-risk prisoners as well as improving the welfare of staff and prisoners.