Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday February 28 announced the resumption of family visits in all prisons and correctional facilities countrywide.
Speaking at the Naivasha Maximum Prison, the Interior CS said the move will allow inmates to interact with their loved ones after the visits were halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are going to resume the family reunions and family visitation meetings in all our facilities including Naivasha Maximum Security prison for both male and female inmates,” said Kindiki.
According to the Interior CS, the government also intends to decongest prisons and other correctional facilities by 50%.
Kindiki said he will facilitate virtual court sessions and remodeling the ICT infrastructure in prisons countrywide to enable expeditious conclusion of pending matters.
“I will also speak to the Attorney General so that the plan of Power of Mercy helps to decongest our prisons. I have also committed that we are going to decongest our prisons by 50% and all categories of our inmates will be covered by that programme of mercy,” added Kindiki.
He further directed the Prison Services to submit a proposal of how many laptops and computers are needed by inmates.
“I want you to submit a proposal for how many computers or laptops you require and I will give you enough so that as you appear in your court sessions and paralegals you can be supported,” he remarked.
At the same time Kindiki mentioned that the government is concluding the Prisons Equipment Modernisation program to impart inmates with relevant technical skills in their rehabilitation journey.
The programme will see inmates who have acquired technical skills, reformed and rehabilitated benefit from grants to enable them start their lives afresh after completing their sentences.
