- The report also showed that Kenyan prisons are holding unconvicted persons, and in 2023, there were 26,358 such prisoners.
- Of these,24,885 were men while 1,473 were women.
More men than women have been convicted and imprisoned in 2023, a new report shows.
The National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) report for the Financial Year 2022/2023 launched on Tuesday showed that of the 35,557 convicted prisoners, 33,787 are men.
During the year, females found guilty of crimes and sentenced to prison were 1,770.
The report also showed that Kenyan prisons are holding unconvicted persons, and in 2023, there were 26,358 such prisoners.
Of these,24,885 were men while 1,473 were women.
In total, there are 61,915 prisoners, the highest number reported in the last five years.
In 2022, the total number of prisoners was 54,750 while in 2021 it was 47,672, in 2020 the prisoners were 20,718 and in 2019 they were 53,348.
"This could be attributed to the inability of petty offenders to meet bail or bond terms or pay the fines imposed upon conviction," the report said.
Further, the report found that between 2021 and 2022, the number of convicted persons sentenced to death increased from 73 to 94.
The males sentenced to death in 2021 were 72 with one female, while in 2022, males were 93 with one female.
On the other hand, those serving life imprisonment were 273 in 2021 and 325 in 2022.
Men sentenced to life imprisonment in 2021 were 268 with five women and in 2022, there were 328 men with seven women.
A 2017 landmark ruling by the Supreme Court declared mandatory death sentence in some offences - murder- unconstitutional.
Although the death penalty is listed in the laws, no executions have taken place since 1987.
Former presidents Mwai Kibaki in 2009 and Uhuru Kenyatta in 2016 changed the sentences of all death row prisoners to life imprisonment.
Everyone who had been given a death sentence was to receive a life sentence, per their order.
Life Sentence in Kenya is regarded as lasting until death and not by execution.
The new Penal Code (Ammended) Bill, 2023 however seeks to amend life imprisonment and substituting with "for a period not exceeding 30 years".
Murder shall also be sentenced by death, if the proposals go through.