CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PS HOLDS MEETING WITH PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE, PUSHES FOR ENHANCED BUDGET

By Nicholas Kigondu

State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco has assured of her commitment to sustain ongoing reforms targeting the country’s correctional services.

Speaking in Mombasa during a meeting with members of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) of the National assembly, the PS said the department has instituted a raft of measures meant to align its operations with the bottom-up economic transformation agenda.

According to the PS, the measures include legal and policy reforms, capacity enhancement, strengthening of security within penal facilities, transformation of Kenya prisons enterprises, prison modernization as well as upgrade of services delivery systems through digitization of correctional services and ICT infrastructure set up.

She however expressed concern over serious budgetary constraints which she said had derailed the pace of the envisaged reforms.

She pointed out that the rationalization of the development budget for the state department in the current financial year 2024/25 affected many ongoing projects which had payment certificates.

“We therefore appeal to you that the development budget be reinstated in supplementary estimates No. 11 of FY 2024/25 to clear the pending certificates.” She urged the committee.

While pledging to help push for the funding of critical unfunded areas, JLAC chair who is also the Tharaka MP, George Murugara said correctional services remain critical in the justice system even as he challenged the department to adopt innovative initiatives to help bridge the funding gap.

Further, Members were briefed on sustainable strategies being adopted by the department to help address some of the current challenges including on the planned operationalization of the Wanini Kireri Magereza Level IV hospital in Ruiru.