A Principal Secretary has called for reforms in the prisons’ system.  

Correctional Services PS Salome Muhia made the remarks during the marking of Nelson Mandela Day and presentation of the System, Policies, Procedures and Practices Review Report at the Kenya Prisons Service.  

This was a reflection on how far the system has come and a call to action to address the existing gaps that remain. 

The report, developed in collaboration with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), highlights both strengths and failures within the correctional services. 

Salome described it as not only a diagnostic tool but also a roadmap for reform.

“We must care,” she emphasised, pointing to the dignity of prisoners as a reflection of the values of the nation. 

“Our prisons mirror our society; what you see in those cells tells you who we are.”  

She lamented the ongoing issues of corruption, mismanagement, inadequate health care, and the lack of humane facilities.  

According to PS, the root cause of these problems is not just a lack of resources but a widespread “don’t-care” attitude.

“If we don’t care about our neighbour, their dignity, or the standards they’re subjected to, then we are failing as a society,” she warned. 

Salome described the disparity in conditions between men’s and women’s prisons.

While all women’s facilities are equipped with beds, most male inmates still sleep on the floor.  

She revealed that one of the first issues she encountered when she assumed office. To address it, her office launched the “HeForHe Adopt-a-Bed” campaign to provide beds in men’s prisons.

So far, three male facilities are fully equipped, and beds have been completed for 85 more inmates. Out of 89 male prisons in the country, 46 women’s facilities already meet the standard.  

Muhia appealed to stakeholders and citizens to support the campaign, revealing plans for a national fundraiser dinner. 

“I want every Kenyan to be able to say, ‘I helped restore dignity to our prisons,’” she said. “You never know who might end up as a guest of the state.” 

She emphasised legislative and policy reforms already in motion. She announced that the Kenya Correctional Service Bill and a new correctional policy are in their final stages of approval.

These documents aim to address the treatment of inmates, decongestion, rehabilitation, and mental health. 

The PS also addressed financial irregularities, noting that the correctional services are embracing digital reforms to improve transparency.

With support from the World Bank, the department is digitalising all 135 Kenya Prisons Service facilities and 148 probation and aftercare offices. 

Procurement processes have already moved online, officers are undergoing retraining, and a Prison Enterprise Information Management System is being rolled out to prevent misuse of funds.