IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRST PHASE OF OFFENDER TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM SET TO KICK OFF

By Nicholas Kigondu

The State Department for Correctional Services is set to kick off implementation of the first phase of a secure offender telephone communication system.

The system, to be deployed by Telio Group across four correctional facilities in the first phase, is meant to provide secure telephony services that will allow for family contact and access to legal representation.

Speaking during a meeting with officials from Telio group led by Ghislain d'Adesky, Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco said the installation of the communication system is part of the government’s digital transformation and institutional modernization agenda meant to support broader reforms targeting the country’s correctional system.

The telecommunications and software company will, beginning tomorrow, engage technical teams from both Kenya Prisons Service and Probation and Aftercare Service on the finer details of the project, before embarking on site visits that will advise the development of the implementation plan.

In the project, Telio group will take care of the installation of the system including the hardware, software, locally hosted data infrastructure and staff training.

The PS said the system will facilitate family connections and support the rehabilitation process, ensure secure and reliable access to legal representatives and services while at the same time providing a legal, monitored alternative to the use of unauthorized mobile phones.

The meeting was also attended by Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh, Acting Probation and Aftercare Secretary Shadrack Kavutai and members of the Telio Offender Communication System Committee.

Nairobi Remand and Allocation Maximum Security Prison, Lang’ata women Maximum Security Prison, Nairobi probation hostel and the Nakuru Girls probation hostel will be the four facilities targeted in the first phase of the project.