The government has commenced on moving inmates from Thika prison to the nearby Yatta, Ruiru and Murang’a prisons as part of efforts to decongest the Thika prison.
This move follows concerns of a cholera outbreak that hit the correctional facility in which 38 inmates contracted cholera in the past one week.
Moreover, Correctional Services Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni reported that Thika Prison that has a capacity of 500 is now holding over 1,200 inmates, thus, making it hard to contain the disease on time.
The Principal Secretary, who spoke during her tour of the correctional facility to assess the cholera status on Wednesday, April 19 said the decongestion programme would have the numbers reduced significantly to make sure the inmates live decently.
She further noted that they are working with neighboring courts of Kandara, Thika and Ruiru to reduce the number of inmates being admitted at the Thika prison.
The PS added that offenders who have been sentenced will be spread across the neighboring prisons to ease congestion in the facility.
Also Read: Cholera Outbreak Reported at Thika Prison
Similarly, the PS reported that they have managed to contain the virus in Thika Prison, adding that it would have been easier had the facility not been crowded.
“We have managed to contain the disease. Of the over 38 inmates who contracted the virus over the past one week, only seven are still sick. The remaining 30 are stable. However, one is critical and is hospitalized,” she said.
Furthermore, she directed the prison management to make sure new inmates are screened for the disease before they are allowed at the facility.
“Going forward, we want to ensure that before new prisoners are admitted at the facility, they get tested for cholera. That way, we will end new infections,” she said.
Her sentiments came after it was revealed that the disease got into the facility from new offenders who had been sentenced at the Ruiru and Kandara courts.
