CORRECTIONAL DEPARTMENT TO ENHANCE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE JUDICIARY TO DECONGEST PRISONS
By Martha Munyambu
The State Department is working hand in hand with the judiciary to decongest correctional facilities across the country.
Speaking at Embu GK Prison the PS for Correctional Services said that the State Department is working hand in hand with the Judiciary to scale up the issuance of probation orders and community service orders so that the petty offenders can serve their terms out of the court.
She pointed out that the State Department is working closely with the office of the Chief Justice through the National Commission on Administration of Justice to fast-track the decongestion process.
She further said that the Government is advocating the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms through the National Government Administration Offices across the Country, to be assisting in solving disputes particularly land and family disputes.
She added that the Government is encouraging the inmates to take advantage of the power of mercy orders applied for online or through the pardon officers who are based in all the Prisons across the country.
The PS encouraged the inmates to take advantage and enrol to the fotmal and TVET programs while serving their jail terms in order to upgrade their skills.
The Government recently launched the virtual university and the PS said plans are underway to see the offenders can also be part of the learning process at the University.
Madam Salome promised to work with development partners to boost quality.
"State Department already has an education unit and it is looking into the possibility of working with development partners to see whether we can equip additional ICT equipment.
The PS announced that the visitation rights have been reviewed and the relatives are allowed to visit their loved ones.
The visitations had been halted due to the surge of COVID-19 as a measure to reduce infections and spread in correctional facilities.
The PS was accompanied by the Commissioner General of Prisons, Brig (Rtd) John K Warioba, Director Probation and Aftercare Services, Christine Obondi, Eastern Regional Commissioner of Prisons Mathew Kimanzi among other senior staff from State Department for Correctional Services.