NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 29 — Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has directed the resumption of family visitations in all prisons and correctional facilities across the country.
CS Kindiki said Wednesday, when he paid a visit to the Naivasha Maximum Prison, that the move will allow inmates to spend time with their loved ones on days set aside by the correctional facilities.
The State Department for Correctional Services suspended prison visitations in 2020 following the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to prevent a further spread of the virus.
“Now that COVID-19 is over, I don’t see any reason to deny you [inmates] an opportunity to interact with your families,” Kindiki told inmates.
“We are going to resume the family reunions and family visitation meetings and events in all our facilities including Naivasha Maximum Security Prison for both male and female inmates.”
Cutting prison population by half
To decongest the prisons and other correctional facilities, Kindiki said the government intends to invoke the Power of Mercy in its quest to reduce the prison population.
On the petition of any person, the Power of Mercy Act of 2011 allows the President to exercise it per the advice of the Advisory Committee to grant a free or conditional pardon to a person convicted of an offence, postponing the carrying out of a punishment, either for a specified or indefinite period, substituting a less severe form of punishment or remitting all or part of a punishment.
“I will speak to the Attorney General so that the plan of Power of Mercy helps to decongest our prisons,” Kindiki said adding that his ministry will aim to cut the prison population by 50 per cent.
The Interior CS further expressed the government’s commitment to fund the prison enterprises to improve their facilities and equipment.
In May 2023, Kindiki disclosed that his Ministry is working with the Judiciary to develop alternative sentencing programs including suspended sentences for petty offenders in a bid to decongest prison facilities in the country.
Speaking Monday during his visit to the Mwea GK Prison in Kirinyaga County, Kindiki acknowledged overcrowding of prisons was a recipe for disaster hence the need for quick intervention.
“What we are having is disastrous. We have almost double the population than our prisons are supposed to hold, and it is not fair,” 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.”
