“The journey of reforming our prisons and other correctional facilities is on course to enable them to comprehensively and meaningfully rehabilitate citizens who in one way or the other have been in conflict with the law and serving time in the institutions,” DP said.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy President, Dr. Christopher Wanjau, during a handover of critical items to ease congestion at Nairobi West Prison on Tuesday, the Deputy President stated that the government has allocated resources for upgrading of the facilities and rehabilitation initiatives.
“The government has invested a substantial amount of resources; financial, human and material, to facilitate coordinated, sustainable and comprehensive rehabilitation of all inmates in the correctional facilities.
This includes equipping them with necessary and relevant knowledge and expertise that will help transform them and make their reintegration back to the society successful and beneficial,” he added.
The Deputy President also urged Kenyans to actively participate in the programmes aimed at reintegrating ex-prisoners back into society, reiterating the importance to embrace them as co-players in the socio-economic transformation of the country.
“This is possible when we give them opportunities to earn an honest living from the skills, training and mentorship received through the Prisons Reforms Programme,” he added.
Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco welcomed the Deputy President’s support in the quest for better prisons and rehabilitation programmes saying the mattresses and other items will improve the sleeping facilities for the inmates.
“This thoughtful gesture reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to improving the welfare of persons in custody and strengthening the correctional system as an integral component of the administration of justice,” PS said.
Dr. Beacco added the State Department of Correctional Facilities has adopted a whole-of-government approach towards progressive transformation of prisons into institutions that promote rehabilitation rather than mere incarceration.
“Decent living conditions are fundamental to creating an environment where correctional programmes can thrive and where offenders are empowered to reform, acquire skills, and successfully reintegrate into society upon release,” she added.
Also present during the ceremony were Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh, Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Jane Kirii and other senior prison officers.
