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Chief Justice Martha Koome on Monday spearheaded the launch of a new initiative aimed at decongesting prisons within the Nairobi region, as part of broader reforms targeting the country’s criminal justice system.
The decongestion program, set to be implemented in two phases, will first focus on reviewing bail and bond terms for unconvicted persons held in Nairobi’s correctional facilities. This phase is expected to benefit 376 offenders. The second phase will involve a review of sentences at the High Court.
During the launch at the Nairobi Remand and Allocation Maximum Security Prison, Chief Justice Koome emphasized the judiciary’s commitment to restorative justice. She highlighted the importance of rehabilitating offenders to facilitate their reintegration into society.
“Overcrowded prisons are not conducive to humane living conditions, and without such conditions, the dignity of those incarcerated is compromised. It is imperative that we restore the prison environment to one that supports the rehabilitation of offenders, as this is the only way we can hope to reintegrate them into society as responsible and reformed citizens,” said Koome.
The Chief Justice also proposed alternative sentencing options for petty offenders, particularly those serving sentences of less than three months. She advocated for placing such offenders under Community Service orders instead of incarcerating them.
“Petty offenders should not be subjected to incarceration. Instead, they should be diverted to Community Service or alternative sentencing options that enable them to contribute positively to society,” she added.
Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Correctional Services, Dr. Salome Beacco, echoed the Chief Justice’s concerns about the growing number of inmates in remand. She noted that the program would help address the challenges posed by the overcrowded facilities.
“The high number of those in remand is a matter of great concern countrywide, given that they cannot be exposed to any meaningful rehabilitation regimes as they are merely on transit. Therefore, the need to have an urgent and sustainable solution to decongest these facilities cannot be overemphasized,” said Dr. Beacco.
Currently, Kenya’s prison population stands at approximately 61,000 inmates, nearly double the system’s capacity of around 30,000. High bail and bond terms have been identified as a significant factor contributing to the overcrowding. The new initiative represents a critical step towards alleviating these pressures and reforming Kenya’s criminal justice system.
