now prisons get a new lease of life

The Nation (Nairobi)

February 21, 2005: Before Narc came to power two years ago and Vice-President Moody Awori removed the veil of secrecy shrouding Kenyan jails, access to the institutions was denied to Government critics and the Press.

The only information coming out of jail during retired President Moi's 24-year rule was from freed prisoners.

Mr Moi and his lieutenants were quick to dismiss any report exposing squalid conditions in prisons.

On January 30, 2000, the Commissioner of Prisons dismissed as hearsay allegations that prisoners were being tortured.

However, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture said the use of torture by law enforcement officers in Kenya was widespread and systematic.

He recommended that: "The Government should ensure all allegations of torture and similar treatment are promptly, independently and thoroughly investigated by a body capable of prosecuting perpetrators."

Information about the conditions in the prisons was limited because access to prisons was denied or severely restricted.

When Mr Shariff Nassir was the Home Affairs minister, he kicked up a storm by publicly remarking that Kenyans flocked to jail to escape poverty.

The minister's job at the time was to maintain Kenya's prisons but there was nothing to show that the Government intended to reform the jails.

In September 1995, a High Court judge described prisons as "death chambers" because of the high mortality rate. He noted that "going to prison these days has become a sure way for a death certificate".

A committee on Community Service Orders was set up in February 1996 to look into reducing the number of custodial sentences.

In June 1997 Attorney-General Amos Wako informed Amnesty International that a draft Bill to reform prisons was almost ready.

Although countless meetings and seminars were held by senior government officials to seek a permanent solution to the crisis in the country's 78 prisons, nothing was implemented under the Kanu regime.

When Narc came to power, Mr Awori embarked on an ambitious programme to give prisons a new lease of life.

For the two years he has been in charge of the Home Affairs portfolio, the VP has visited jails preaching reforms.

He has donated TV sets, food, clothes and sanitary goods to inmates. In October, last year, Mr Awori said Sh28 billion was required to reform prisons.

Among the suggested reforms is a change of name to Centres for Correction to remove the stigma that stalks former prisoners.

In February last year, Mr Awori said the Government was considering allowing inmates to be visited by spouses once a month to reduce homosexuality.

Other reforms proposed was the amendment of the Constitution to allow prisoners to vote. It is also proposed that suspects whose cases are delayed for more than five years be released upon conviction.

The Government has set up schools and colleges inside prisons and dozens of prisoners sat the national examinations last year while others are taking professional courses like computers and marketing.