Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh believes the move to decongest the Nairobi Prisons will lead to humane treatment of offenders.

Speaking on Monday, August 12, at Industrial Area Prison during his launch of the Prisons Decongestion Initiative for Prisons in the Nairobi region, Aranduh extended his gratitude to Martha Koome for honouring the event.

Congestion challenge

He pointed out that congestion was the major challenge that the prisons were facing.

“Decongestion exercise shall contribute to humane treatment of offenders and I want to extend my gratitude to the Chief Justice for honouring this event, it demonstrates a genuine commitment for all to access justice. Kenya Prison Service continues to face many challenges key among them being the congestion of prisoners,”

Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya on her part said she was delighted to be part of the process that will offer a sustainable prison population.

“I am delighted therefore to be part of this process, through which we can offer justice tempered with mercy to promote a sustainable prison population. In modern times, the ends of criminal justice is not pure retribution as was the case in olden days, but to reform offenders and to reintegrate them into society as productive citizens who live with the rest of their community within the confines of the law,” she stated.

Mokaya on release

Mokaya said 376 out of 4,000 offenders are set to be released as the phase of decongestion starts.

“Today, for instance, the proposal is to use this phase of decongestion to release some 376 out of 4,000 offenders but this will still this facility with nearly twice its capacity of 2,000. The situation is the same across all prison facilities countrywide,” she added.