Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga has led a two-day prison decongestion exercise at Nakuru G.K. Main Prison aimed at reducing overcrowding and improving access to justice through expedited case handling and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

The initiative was on May 15, 2026, coordinated by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) Rift Valley Regional Office under Regional Coordinator Tom Imbali.

It brought together agencies within the criminal justice sector, including the Judiciary, Kenya Prisons Service, National Police Service, Office of the Attorney General, Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Department of Children Services, and the Probation Department.

Nakuru G.K. Main Prison currently holds more than 1,800 inmates despite having a holding capacity of 800. The facility serves Nakuru, Molo, and Eldama Ravine areas.

The exercise focused on on-site case review, plea bargaining, diversion agreements, sentence reviews, bond reviews, and fast-tracking deserving cases requiring urgent intervention.

Speaking during the exercise, DPP Renson Ingonga said the ODPP remains committed to promoting a fair and efficient justice system through collaboration with justice sector stakeholders.

“We remain committed to a fair, efficient, and people-centred justice system,” he said.

“The initiative, the first of its kind at the ODPP, is in line with the DPP’s Strategic Agenda on expeditious case disposal, operationalisation of Alternative Justice Systems through diversion and plea bargaining, and strengthened multi-agency collaboration within the criminal justice sector,” read the X post in part.

Courts set up inside prison facility

In a coordinated effort to speed up case handling, nine courts were stationed within the prison facility to hear matters directly from inmates.

High Court benches from Nairobi, Nakuru, Kabarnet, Eldama Ravine, and Molo participated in the sessions alongside magistrates from Nakuru and Molo Law Courts.

The Nairobi High Court bench was led by Hon. Justice Margaret Waringa Muigai, while the Nakuru High Court bench was led by Presiding Judge Joseph K. Sergon and Hon. Lady Justice Patricia Gichohi.

Approximately 200 cases were handled during the two-day exercise following file screening and sensitisation programmes conducted by ODPP offices in Nakuru, Molo, Eldama Ravine, and Kabarnet.

The matters included plea bargaining applications, diversion agreements, sentence reviews, and cases involving minors. Advocates from the Law Society of Kenya Nakuru Chapter also offered pro bono legal services during the intervention.

Rehabilitation and reform

Justice Joseph K. Sergon described the intervention as a significant initiative within the criminal justice sector and clarified that plea bargaining remains a lawful process that still leads to conviction and accountability.

Justice Margaret Waringa Muigai noted that prison decongestion programmes have traditionally been spearheaded by the Judiciary and welcomed the collaboration with the ODPP and other institutions.

Lady Justice Teresia Matheka urged stakeholders to extend diversion and plea bargaining programmes to children in conflict with the law to support rehabilitation and reintegration.

Nakuru County Commissioner Loyford Kibara encouraged inmates benefiting from the programme to embrace reform and avoid reoffending after release.

The ODPP said the exercise is part of broader efforts to strengthen restorative justice approaches, reduce prison congestion, and improve efficiency within the criminal justice system.