Christmas has come early for 20 mothers serving short-term sentences at Eldoret Women’s Prison, following a gesture of judicial mercy by the High Court.
Presiding Eldoret High Court Judge, Justice Reuben Nyakundi, ordered the early release of the women, allowing them to spend the festive season at home with their families.
The directive applies to inmates serving sentences of less than three months, provided they have demonstrated genuine reform while in custody.
Speaking after presenting Christmas gifts to inmates at the facility, Justice Nyakundi said the move is part of a broader Judiciary initiative aimed at decongesting correctional facilities while prioritising the welfare of children.
He said that the special holiday release focused on “prison babies” — young children who live behind bars with their incarcerated mothers.
“These children are innocent, and as a show of mercy, we are releasing more than 20 mothers after assessing their files and confirming that they qualify,” Justice Nyakundi said.
For many beneficiaries, the announcement came as an unexpected Christmas miracle, offering them the chance to celebrate the holidays with their children in the warmth of home rather than behind bars.
“I am grateful to God for this gesture. I promise to reciprocate it by being a good citizen after being imprisoned for so long,” said one inmate who requested anonymity.
The Judiciary coordinated with the Kenya Prisons Service, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and other key stakeholders to facilitate the releases.
“Our priority is to ensure that inmates with children in prison can reunite with their families during this festive season. Children should not live behind bars; it is their mothers who were found guilty, not them,” Justice Nyakundi said.
The officer in charge of Eldoret Women’s Prison Patricia Makali welcomed the move, describing it as a significant step towards restorative justice.
“By targeting inmates with less than 90 days remaining on their sentences, the court is balancing the rule of law with the social need for family stability. We recommended the release of prisoners who have genuinely reformed and acquired skills that will help them reintegrate and earn a living upon release,” Ms Makali said.
She added that the initiative goes beyond seasonal goodwill, offering a practical solution to the persistent challenge of prison congestion. Eldoret Women’s Prison currently has a capacity of fewer than 200 inmates.
Justice Nyakundi noted that the initiative will continue beyond the festive season, with stakeholders working closely with the Judiciary and the DPP to review minor cases more frequently. The goal, he said, is to ensure that inmates who pose no threat to society can be reintegrated through community service or early release.
