Parliament has demanded the swift operationalisation of the Revolving Prison Enterprise Fund, saying the move will be a game-changer in rehabilitating inmates and transforming correctional facilities across the country.

The call was made by the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Implementation Oversight (CIOC) during a visit to Kaloleni Main Prison in Kilifi County on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

Chaired by Caroli Omondi, the Committee stressed that the fund must be rolled out without delay to empower the Kenya Prisons Service and directly benefit inmates.

The Committee also pushed for prison reforms, highlighting health and conjugal rights debates.

Fund to boost training and rehabilitation

According to the Committee, the Fund is designed to finance the Prisons Service while supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates back into society.

“The fund is expected to play a critical role in financing Kenya’s Prisons Service activities while supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society,” the statement read.

Parliament said the revenue will go into training programs, modern equipment, and the promotion of goods made behind prison walls, ranging from furniture and textiles to agricultural produce and car license plates.

Earnings not benefiting inmates

Despite the economic activities inside prisons, lawmakers said the benefits have not reached inmates.

“Kenyan prisons currently produce a range of items, including furniture, textiles, agricultural products, metal works, and car license plates. However, despite these economic activities, the earnings are not directly benefiting inmates, many of whom continue to live in deplorable conditions,” the Committee observed.

The MPs recommended that the management of the Fund be entrusted to the Kenya Prisons Service to ensure accountability and proper alignment with institutional needs.

MPs decry crisis in prisons

During the inspection, the Committee also raised concerns about systemic challenges that continue to cripple Kenya’s prisons. Among the issues highlighted were severe overcrowding, chronic underfunding, inadequate healthcare services, and a shortage of professionals such as psychologists and counsellors.

Members further pointed to crosscutting problems within the wider justice system, citing delays in cases, lack of coordination, and corruption as barriers to meaningful reform. They also flagged radicalisation, drug abuse, and piracy as emerging threats within prisons.

Push for urgent reforms

The Committee pledged to work with key stakeholders to fast-track reforms aimed at improving conditions in correctional facilities.

“The Committee pledged to work closely with relevant stakeholders to address these issues, advocating for urgent reforms to enhance the humane treatment of inmates and the overall improvement of correctional facilities in Kenya,” the statement noted.

With this demand, Parliament signalled a shift in prison reform, placing skills training, accountability, and self-sustenance at the centre of Kenya’s correctional system.