Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has announced the resumption of family visits in all prisons and correctional facilities across the country.
Speaking during his visit to Naivasha Maximum Prison, the CS noted that prison visits that had been halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic will now resume allowing inmates to reconnect with their loved ones.
“We are going to resume the family reunions and family visitation meetings in all our facilities including Naivasha Maximum Security prison for both male and female inmates,” said CS Kindiki.
According to him, the implemented policy adjustment is expected to apply to all correctional facilities such as maximum-security prisons, youth corrective training institutions and borstal institutions.
Kindiki further explained that there’s no way prisoners could still be restricted from interacting with their families as the Covid pandemic had been combated.
“When I look at you today, I can see that all of you are well. Considering the ban that was previously imposed, I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t allow your families to visit you in prison,” interior CS continued.
CS Kindiki on Prisons Specific Family Visits
Moreover, he stressed the importance of allocating specific days for family visitations to ensure that these rights are consistently fulfilled.
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“Families should have at least one day allocated for visits within a timeframe that will be determined by the government at a later date,” he added.
He further urged Naivasha Maximum Prison officials to propose ways for the facility to benefit from tournaments.
The initiatives align with the broader Kenya Prison Reforms, aiming to facilitate connections between incarcerated individuals and their families ultimately supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Reforms to Reduce Congestion
Additionally, the CS highlighted the government’s intention to decongest prisons and other correctional facilities by 50 per cent through the ‘Power of Mercy’ policy.
“I will also speak to the Attorney General so that the plan of Power of Mercy helps to decongest our prisons,” Kindiki said.
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“I have also committed that we are going to decongest our prisons by 50 per cent and all categories of our inmates will be covered by that programme of mercy.”
Subsequently, Kindiki’s remarks came days after the court allowed prisoners to attend funerals of their immediate family members.
In a statement shared on February 23, 2024, the judiciary emphasized that prisoners must attend the funerals unless there are significant justifications for their absence.
“Court rules that all sentenced prisoners and pre-trial detainees held in custody should be permitted to attend funerals of their close family members unless there are compelling reasons,” read the statement in part.
