The government is working with the Judiciary to fast-track cases of mothers living with their children in prison, Principal Secretary, State Department for Correctional Services, Mary Muthoni has said.
This she said is aimed at reducing the number of minors in correctional facilities in the country.
Speaking after making an impromptu visit to the Nakuru main prison, the PS said children growing under such circumstances are prone to abuse, diseases and stigma.
According to the PS, the Nakuru Women Prison has 10 children with about 400 being hosted in detention facilities across the country below the age of 4.
“The judiciary is doing its best to review the cases of these mothers and ensure that they are completed. As long as they have not committed capital crimes and if they are petty offenders they should be released,” the PS said.
The PS added that such offenders can be attached to community services such as cleaning government offices for a period of time until they serve their term.
She further observed that the government is keen on decongesting the detention facilities by reducing the number of petty offenders.
This will also involve using alternative dispute resolution through the chiefs, elders and Nyumba Kumi to resolve cases.
“If you arrest someone loitering and you put them in remand for 10 or 20 months what are we saying? That man or woman should be digging in his farm, if the police find someone drunk take his or her family to continue building the economy,” She said.
She also lauded the Nakuru Main Prison for initiating various projects like carpentry and tailoring which help the prisoner gain skills to be reintegrated into the community.
Ms Muthoni further said the prison facilities should provide more engaging activities to equip the inmate as it will make them financial independent when released from jail.
