Plans to Decongest Prisons through Community Service Orders Unveiled

 

The State Department for Correctional Services and the Judiciary are set to launch a new initiative aimed at alleviating overcrowding in Kenya’s prisons. During a recent meeting between Chief Justice Martha Koome and Dr. Salome Beacco, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Correctional Services, both parties agreed to prioritize community service orders (CSOs) as part of their comprehensive decongestion plan.

The plan also focuses on restorative justice, sentence review, non-custodial sentencing, and joint training for relevant stakeholders. A key aspect of the initiative will involve synchronizing the court calendar to efficiently handle Community Service Orders, ensuring the timely implementation of sentences that benefit both offenders and society.

Chief Justice Koome emphasized the positive impact of the CSO program on the ongoing decongestion efforts, noting that it will not only reduce prison overcrowding but also encourage a sense of responsibility among offenders. By contributing to the community, offenders will have an opportunity to make amends for their actions and reintegrate into society in a productive manner.

“The judiciary is committed to developing practice directions to guide the review of cases for those eligible for CSOs,” said Koome.

The push for prison decongestion comes amid alarming statistics showing that the country's prison population has surged to approximately 61,000 inmates, far exceeding the facilities' capacity of 34,000. Dr. Beacco noted that the backlog of cases has played a significant role in the overcrowding crisis, and her office is working closely with county governments to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed reforms.

The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including Lady Justice Margaret Muigai, Chairperson of Community Service Orders, Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh, and Dr. Christine Obondi, Secretary of the Probation and Aftercare Service.

In addition to CSOs, the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee (POMAC) has been instrumental in supporting the decongestion effort by pardoning reformed offenders and facilitating their reintegration into society. In July 2023, a total of 5,061 prisoners were granted amnesty, including those sentenced to six months or less (2,944 individuals), long-term offenders with a balance of six months or less (2,117 individuals), and 37 long-term prisoners. Additionally, 662 death sentences were commuted to life sentences.

This combined approach of pardons, sentence reviews, and community service orders is expected to have a lasting impact on decongesting prisons while encouraging rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. The decongestion initiative is set to continue as part of broader reforms within the country's correctional services.

February 25, 2025