MPs push prison reforms as overcrowding and underfunding crisis deepen
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, May 7, 2026The National Assembly Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) has demanded a major overhaul of administration in the correctional service to help reinvigorate stalled prison reforms and improve conditions in correctional facilities nationwide.
In a statement on their social media on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, the Parliament of Kenya has noted that during the visit, the legislators noted that the prisons were severely overcrowded, the facilities were in a state of disrepair, the prison officers’ welfare was poor, and the prisons were poorly funded.
“During an inspection tour of Naivasha Maximum, Medium and Women’s prisons, lawmakers raised concern over severe overcrowding, crumbling infrastructure, underfunding and the deteriorating welfare of both inmates and prison officers,” parliament noted.
The committee led by Benjamin Gathiru said the Kenya Prisons Service has been under-demandingly led since it was reallocated from the Office of the Vice President to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
Gathiru referred to the changes made by former Vice President Moody Awori, which once made prison conditions better and inmates’ rehabilitation programmes better.
“You will recall that when former Vice President Moody Awori initiated prison reforms, there was a visible change in attitude among both inmates and prison officers. Those reforms would have been sustained had the administration remained in an office capable of providing that specific level of attention,” Gathiru said.
Kibwezi East legislator Jessica Mbalu, who backed the proposal, said the Interior Ministry was too busy with national security issues to be able to pay attention to reforming prisons.
Lack of infrastructure
The Committee was informed that Naivasha Maximum Prison was constructed in 1969 to house 1,590 prisoners but is now housing over 2,300. The capacity of Naivasha Medium Prison is 300 inmates, and it is currently holding 926 inmates.
They were also told that just one-third of the CCTVs installed in the facility are working and that the sewer systems and roofing were breaking down due to the pressure from the increasing number of inmates.
Prison officers complained of a lack of communication facilities, as they reported there were security threats to them because they are not permitted to carry cell phones inside the facilities. They also said that walkthrough scanners are not in place, allowing contraband to be put into prison more easily.
The MPs at the women’s prison were told that it had been upgraded to a full facility in 2019, but it still has no official vehicle to be used in emergencies, a dispensary or a mother/baby unit.
Officers and inmates raise welfare concerns
The committee also heard that the transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA) is stalled, as many inmates do not have national identity cards and thus are unable to avail themselves of specialised health care services.
Mbalu also asked if mental health care is provided to prison officers as a result of the psychological toll of their job. Officials said there were no counselling services, and a lot of officers were stressed.
Prison officials also revealed a shortage of funds for treating inmates and said they had to purchase medicine and toiletries on their own or rely on the inmates’ families.
Other challenges highlighted included outdated vehicles, lack of protective gear for officers escorting dangerous offenders and failure to provide allowances for officers deployed outside their stations.
The inmates further called on Parliament to change the Kenya Prisons Act and the Sexual Offences Act, noting that some clauses were not reflective of the current circumstances. They suggested introducing a parole system like the one in South Africa for life sentences to be reviewed after 25 years of prison time.
Now the MPs want the Commissioner General of Prisons to appoint an accounting officer to direct funds to the prisons with the highest need in a timely fashion.
The committee will present a detailed report in Parliament to ensure the country’s prisons have the required standards in accordance with the country’s constitution and international correctional standards, the committee said.