Judiciary Launches Nationwide Prison Decongestion Drive in Garissa
GARISSA, Kenya, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 – The Judiciary, in collaboration with the Prisons and Correctional Services, has launched a nationwide prison decongestion initiative aimed at promoting justice, rehabilitation, and humane treatment of offenders.
The program was formally rolled out at Garissa G.K. Prison, where 18 inmates were released to serve the remainder of their sentences through community service orders. Chief Justice Martha Koome, who presided over the event, emphasized that the exercise reflects the Judiciary’s shift from punitive incarceration to restorative justice.
“We are moving away from the old approach that focused solely on punishment where those who came into conflict with the law were seen as beyond redemption towards an approach that recognizes the human potential in every person,” said CJ Koome. “Congestion undermines rehabilitation and compromises the dignity of inmates. Through community service and alternative sentencing, we aim to create a more humane system.”
Koome stressed that petty offenders, particularly those serving sentences of less than three months, should not be confined in prisons. Instead, she said, they should be given non-custodial options that allow them to contribute positively to society. She further underscored the Judiciary’s commitment to protecting children who come into conflict with the law. “Children belong in schools, not prisons. We must provide rehabilitative avenues that help them grow into responsible citizens,” she noted.
Justice John Onyiego, the Presiding Judge in Garissa, commended the cooperation between the courts and prisons in addressing congestion. He highlighted the quarterly prison visits by the High Court in Garissa and the adoption of virtual hearings, which have significantly reduced case backlogs and eased the logistical challenges of transporting inmates to court.
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya said ongoing reforms including Bail and Bond Policy Guidelines, the use of community service orders, and collaboration with justice sector partners under the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) are central to sustainable decongestion efforts. “Incarceration should not be about punishment but about transformation and reintegration,” Mokaya said.
Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Ms. Jane Kirii welcomed the integration of ICT in the justice system and called for expansion of digital facilities in prisons to strengthen access to justice.
The decongestion exercise marks a critical step in aligning Kenya’s correctional system with international standards of human rights and rehabilitation.
