Judiciary, Correctional Services partner to decongest prisons

Nicholas Kigondu (PCO)

The State Department for Correctional Services in collaboration with the Judiciary aims to decongest the country’s prisons through community service orders.

In a meeting between Chief Justice Martha Koome and State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco, the two agreed to focus on restorative justice, sentence review, non-custodial sentencing and joint training besides synchronizing the court calendar to take care of community service orders.

Appreciating the impact of the decongestion programme and 2024 case outcomes, the Chief Justice said community service orders will not only help in ongoing decongestion efforts but also instill a sense of responsibility among offenders while contributing positively to the community.

“Some 1,683 cases were reviewed across 17 high court stations last year where 504 offenders were placed under community service orders, 49 under probation while 225 had their cases reduced,” the Chief Justice observed.

She said the Judiciary will endeavor to develop practice directions to guide in the review of cases for those meant to benefit under the CSO programme.

According to the PS, the case backlog has contributed largely to the current overcrowding within prisons that has seen population within the facilities surge to an average of 61,000 inmates against a capacity of 34,000.

She said her office is working closely with other actors including county governments to realize envisaged reforms within the country’s correctional services.

“I commit to continue working closely with the judiciary to enhance efficiency in the criminal justice system for the common good, even as I seek the judiciary’s support to realize this dream,” the PS said.

Among those present at the meeting included community service orders chairperson Lady Justice Margaret Muigai, Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh and Probation and Aftercare Service Secretary Dr. Chritine Obondi.