Families with relatives at Murang’a prison have been urged to bail them out to
reduce congestion.
Officer in charge Bison Madegwa reported that hundreds of prisoners cannot raise minimal bonds so they remain in remand until their cases are determined.
Those found guilty remain in jail, he adding, noting the prison is severely congested with 700 inmates against a capacity for 300.
“Ninety nine per cent of the people in this prison are from Murang’a and are convicted with bonds of less than Sh50,000 yet their families refuse to bail them out."
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Madegwa further
said that many of the prisoners become jailbirds and lose interest of living in freedom after losing the support of their families.
“Most of these people should be out there working to support their families instead of spending months here over petty offences."
He added the prison is so stretched that it has been forced to spend development money on food and medical care.
Madegwa appealed to prisoners to reform and families to assist them with reintegration.
"It is important for families to know prison is not the end and that their kin who are jailed can reform and become upright members of the society," he said.
Inmates are trained on carpentry and farming so they can sustain themselves once released.
In October last year, 15
graduated with diplomas in theological studies after taking a one-year course sponsored by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa.
Madegwa said these courses help prisoners to reform and channel their energy into constructive matters.
He spoke at the facility on Saturday after a visit by retired army officers from Murang’a county.
The officers who have formed the Defence Old Comrades Association celebrated the new year with the prisoners.
Association chairman Joseph Marubu said they formed the group in 2010
to improve their welfare but that they concentrate more on assisting the needy.
“We have also visited schools and hospitals, helped clean and plant trees. We donate food to the poor twice a year,” he said.
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