A delegation from the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) on Monday conducted a high-level inspection of Nakuru Main Prison and Nakuru Women’s Prison, uncovering a correctional system struggling under chronic underfunding, severe overcrowding, and colonial-era legislation.
During the visit, the Committee learned that the Rift Valley region currently holds 17,663 inmates—comprising 11,570 convicted and 6,093 unconvicted individuals—against a certified capacity of only 13,382.
At Nakuru Main Prison alone, 1,864 inmates are confined in a facility originally built for 800.
“A ward that is supposed to hold around 50 prisoners is holding more than 150,” said the Officer in Charge, describing the system as broken, with some wards sharing a single toilet for 150 men.
Session Chair Hon. Charles Nguna, MP (Mwingi West), expressed dismay at the state of the facilities.
He pledged that the Committee would push for legislative reforms and additional funding in a bid to make correctional facilities habitable.
He further noted that despite some officers present having served for 36 years, this was the first time a parliamentary delegation had conducted such an inspection. He stressed the urgent need for continuous oversight.
“We have been budgeting for programmes that we do not get to effectively oversight. We want to make strong recommendations for better funding and that is why we need these documents signed so we can take them through the House for scrutiny,” he stated.
Among the key issues raised was how overcrowding has severely strained the facilities’ sanitation systems, inmate healthcare, and overall security.
The lawmakers also pointed out that Cap 90 of the colonial-era Prisons Act no longer conforms to modern standards and called for its immediate review.
Previous review efforts have reportedly yielded little progress, with stakeholder input frequently rejected.
The Committee was also briefed challenges relating to the transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the current Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which stakeholders described as frustrating.
The lawmakers were informed that the requirement that one produces an identity card and a phone number for SHIF registration had shut out a majority of inmates who cannot meet this requirement.
Officers running the facilities cited cases where sick inmates were detained in or rejected by hospitals because they were not paid-up members, primarily because the National Treasury has failed to remit premiums.
At the Women’s correctional facility, lawmakers were informed of 13 children living in general prison wards without a steady supply of diapers or sanitary towels. Further, the facility lacks a perimeter wall, creating significant security risks and the potential for contraband smuggling.
The meeting also addressed staff welfare. The Committee was informed that many officers are forced to live in insecure areas due to a chronic lack of official housing.
Hon. Benjamin Gathiru, MP (Embakasi Central), suggested that management submits a proposal for officers to benefit from the Affordable Housing Programme.
“I am very sure if a proposal was done to the Principal Secretary in charge of Housing or even the President himself, that proposal will sail through because I know it myself that there’s a lot of money in this affordable housing programme,” he observed.
Hon. Nguna directed the legal team to prepare for a joint sitting with the relevant Cabinet Secretary and the Attorney General to address these legislative gaps, pledging to take ownership of the stalled Prisons Act proposal.
“Just give us the prisons proposal on the legislative interventions we need to make. Let this committee now help you with the reform process and we will run with it,” he pledged.
“We need to implement the reforms we have proposed here. We do not want to undertake these inspection visits just to tick boxes,” he concluded, pledging to ensure Kenya’s prisons become humane centers for rehabilitation, rather than merely places of detention.
~Report by Parliament of Kenya