Two days ago, President Mwai Kibaki signed an order releasing 6,942 prisoners from jail. This is in keeping with a reform program by the Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that our jails are not crowded and that prisons are viewed as rehabilitation centers and not just punishment centers.
Those released were 3,050 Petty Offenders, 2, 828 First time offenders of good conduct and 1,064 Ordinary prisoners of good conduct. All those released had less than nine months left to serve.
The Government is currently holding 51,286 people, either as convicted prisoners or suspects on remand. 32,429 prisoners are serving time while 18,839 suspects are awaiting completion of their court cases while on remand.
It is very expensive to hold prisoners in our country. The cost of food alone per year to feed prisoners is over 1.7 billion shillings. When you add the costs of accomodation, medical treatment, clothing, staff etc, the cost is a huge burden to the tax payer. Therefore, the Government is urging the courts to consider giving more non-custodial sentences for minor offences so as to reduce the crowding of our prisons.
With the current Presidential Amnesty, there is automatic decongestion of prisons with the people being held dropping from 51,286 to 44,344.
Dr. Alfred N. Mutua, EBS
PUBLIC COMMUICATIONS SECRETARY &
GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
March 30, 2011,
Mombasa.
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