By Dorothy Musyoka
Members of Parliament have raised alarm over the slow pace of reforms within the Kenya Prisons Service, citing deteriorating living and working conditions, rising incidences of scams originating from behind bars and questionable use of prison-generated income and land resources.
During a high-stakes session convened by the National Assembly’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC), lawmakers directly challenged the Kenya Prisons Service leadership over what they termed systemic failures and opacity in operations.
Chairperson Hon. Eric Karemba (Runyenjes) led the charge, questioning the legal framework governing inmate labor and demanding clarity on whether prisoners are being exploited under the guise of rehabilitation.
“We must interrogate whether this is truly rehabilitative work or hidden exploitation,” he stated.
Commissioner General Patrick Aranduh responded by defending current practices, asserting that inmate labor remains within the scope of rehabilitation and not commercial gain.
“We have no idle land; it’s all engaged. Inmates work as part of rehabilitation, not for production,” he stated.
However, a dark cloud loomed over the proceedings as Hon. William Kamket (Tiaty) brought attention to the alarming rise in scams being orchestrated from inside prison facilities.
“Scamming is rampant, and it’s eroding public trust. What concrete steps are being taken to tackle this?” he asked.
“The public is losing faith in our correctional institutions. This must be addressed decisively,” he warned.
Mr. Aranduh acknowledged the issue but offered limited insight into specific measures being taken to curb the fraud, drawing sharp criticism from the committee.
Concerns over congestion and deteriorating infrastructure also dominated the session. Hon. Mary Wamaua (Maragua) painted a grim picture of the state of prisons.
“Our prisoners are in tatters, barely clothed. And our officers are living in hardship. Why can’t they get allowances like teachers do?” she questioned.
Despite these challenges, the Kenya Prisons leadership pointed to some ongoing reforms, including new uniforms for inmates, reallocation of prisoners to manage congestion and efforts to implement the recommendations from the Moody Awori-led taskforce on prison reforms.
The Deputy Commissioner General highlighted emerging partnerships focused on inmate education, vocational training and holistic rehabilitation programs.
The CIOC pledged to continue advocating for comprehensive reforms, ranging from improved infrastructure and fair resource allocation to preserving the dignity of all within the correctional system.