It was all smiles for petty offenders held at Jela Baridi Remand Prison in Mombasa as Governor Abdullswamad Nassir cleared jail bonds for those remanded for victimless crimes.
Accompanied by Mombasa Remand Prison boss Mohammed Omondi, County Secretary Jeizan Farouk and other County Executives, Nassir announced that his foundation, The Shariff Nassir Foundation has facilitated their release by paying their bonds.
“I have facilitated their release so they may join their families during the Easter holiday and upcoming Eid celebrations,” the county boss said.
Victimless crimes are crimes that do not directly and specifically harm another party. Some examples of crimes that do not affect anyone outside of the person committing the crime are public drinking, trespassing, drug use and traffic violations.
Over the last 15 years, The Shariff Nassir Foundation has been providing second chances for scores of individuals who find themselves on the wrong side of the law for petty crimes irrespective of their backgrounds, religious affiliations and ethnicity.
Additionally, the County Government of Mombasa has set in motion plans to reform correctional facilities by focusing on the rehabilitation of individuals struggling with drug abuse and crime.
In July 2023, at least 5,061 prisoners secured early freedom after President William Ruto remitted their remaining sentences.
In a Gazette Notice number 9565 dated July 19, Attorney General Justin Muturi noted that the first lot to receive the clemency included petty offenders jailed to serve six months or less. That included 2,944.
The other lot included prisoners serving a longer term that had exhibited good behaviour and was remaining with six months or less. 2,117 individuals were eligible for the release.
The directive was in line with Article 133 of the 2010 Constitution, which also gives the Head of State powers to grant a free or conditional pardon to a person convicted of an offence.
The plan to decongest prisons across the country emanates from former President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime where in April 2022, the then Interior Minister Fred Matiang'i noted that 5,000 prisoners were set for release.
The programme, at the time, was spearheaded by the Interior Ministry as well as The Kenya Prisons Services.
