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NAIROBI, Kenya – September 17, 2024 – Principal Secretary for the State Department for Correctional Services, Dr. Salome Beacco, has praised the continuous support from international and local partners, emphasizing the crucial role that strategic collaborations play in transforming Kenya’s correctional institutions.
Speaking during a donation handover ceremony at the Kenya Prisons Service Headquarters, Dr. Beacco received donations from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Kenya Red Cross Society worth KSh 49.5 million. These contributions, she noted, are vital in ensuring that inmates live in dignified conditions across the country’s correctional facilities.
“It gives me great pleasure to be here today during this auspicious occasion to receive donations from the International Committee of the Red Cross, largely meant to contribute towards improving the conditions of those in detention,” said Dr. Beacco.
The donations include an LMS Emergency Water Treatment Unit, assorted medical supplies, and stationery, which will be distributed to various correctional institutions throughout Kenya. Dr. Beacco highlighted the importance of such donations, noting that they address pressing needs within the institutions, particularly in improving living standards for inmates.
She also expressed her gratitude to the many stakeholders who have supported correctional services through various initiatives. These include infrastructure development projects, as well as donations of dignity packs, mattresses, blankets, and beds, all of which have significantly contributed to improving the quality of life for those in detention.
Cristiana Scano, the Acting Head of the ICRC Delegation in Kenya, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to working with the State Department for Correctional Services. “ICRC remains dedicated to collaborating with the State Department to preserve the dignity of those in correctional institutions,” she stated.
This latest contribution follows ICRC’s previous support for the department, which has included improving quarantine facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, enhancing water and sanitation infrastructure, and capacity building for prison officers. These partnerships are seen as essential in maintaining the welfare and dignity of inmates while supporting the department’s broader goals of transforming the correctional system.
Accompanying the PS at the ceremony was Commissioner General of Prisons, Patrick Aranduh, who also acknowledged the significant impact of these partnerships on improving prison conditions.
The State Department for Correctional Services continues to prioritize initiatives that enhance inmate welfare, aligning with the government’s broader goals for human rights and dignity within detention facilities.
