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Improve conditions in jails
Nearly two decades since he served as the Vice-President, prison reforms remain a key part of Mr Moody Awori’s legacy. The former VP is remembered for shifting the country’s prisons set-up from a punitive to a rehabilitative system.
During his tenure as the Home Affairs minister (2003–2008), he prioritised inmate dignity, human rights, and better living conditions. Indeed, inmates should serve their terms to fully pay for their crimes, but should not be subjected to inhuman conditions.
Mr Awori is credited with enabling prisoners to enjoy better social services and providing them with mattresses. His tenure also saw the government address the difficult working and housing conditions of the prison officers. This remains a hallmark of his public service.
It is, therefore, worrying that Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco has lamented that budget cuts are derailing the prison reforms. She has blamed this for the overcrowding, poor food and poor infrastructure.
A report by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu on the Correctional Services Department for the fiscal period 2024/25 has also exposed the sorry state of affairs.
A huge chunk of what is allocated to the Correctional Services Department goes into personnel emoluments and medical cover for the prison warders, with little left for development. The budget allocation in the current fiscal year is Sh38.15 billion, only slightly up from Sh34.39 billion in the 2024/25 period.
In the last financial year, Sh1 billion had been set aside for the improvement of the conditions in the prisons. However, it was later reduced by Sh300 million, making it difficult to carry out the reforms.
The prisons have leaking roofs and food infested with rodents. The inmates and the warders deserve better living conditions. The sorry situation in the jails and the prison warders’ poor housing should be improved.
