THARAKA NITHI, Kenya, Feb 22 — Correctional Service Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni on Wednesday cleared Governor Muthomi Njuki’s petition for relocation of Chuka Prison to a 60-acre parcel in Kabarianga area.
Governor Njuki argued the land on which the prison presently sits with Chuka Central Business District (CBD) would be be more useful to the county residents if other essential facilities were established there.
“We want want to put up a leve 5 Hospital there in order to serve our people well. There is no public Hospital that is nearby. We will also put up other establishments which will ensure we serve our people well,” Muthomi said..
PS Muthoni acknowledged the county government’s efforts to follow the due diligence and promised to work closely in ensuring a smooth transfer of the necessary documents.
“We are serving the same government and I am sure we have the interest of the Kenyan people at heart. If we coordinate and cooperate well, then we will all succeed together,” Muthoni said.
“I am glad and grateful that you are giving us a solution by offering to give us that land to relocate to. At least we will not start from scratch. We have somewhere to move and set up the prison.”
Prison facilities
During the visit of the Chuka Prison where 300 inmates are held, Governor Njuki paid fines for 21 petty offenders and asked authorities to allow them serve their communities.
He warned them from repeating the offences.
Governor Njuki further pledged to have 300 mattresses to the prison after witnessing the deplorable state the inmates sleep in.
“Our wish is not to have to you locked here but we have to follow the law. We want to make life better for everyone including yourselves. I do not like the state this prison is in and I promise to work together with the correctional service to ensure that even those who are here are treated in a humane way,” said Governor Njuki.
While expressing gratitude to Governor Njuki, PS Muthoni said plans are underway to have each prisoner provided with a bed and a mattress.
“I am glad the Governor has come in when our clarion call is to have one prisoner, one bed, one mattress. As much as we want to have less of inmates and more of a Cohesive society, we must ensure those who go to the prisons are treated well,” she said.
