President William Ruto has called for the implementation of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms for minor offenders as a measure to decongest crowded prisons.
Speaking while presiding over the pass-out parade of 222 Prison Cadets at the Prisons Service Training College in Ruiru, Kiambu County today, Ruto noted that over 10,000 prisoners are serving sentences of less than three years.
“All these people need not be incarcerated. It is important for stakeholders in the justice value chain to seriously implement alternative dispute resolution and to consider alternatives to imprisonment for relatively minor sentences.” The president said.
He said 41 per cent of the prison population is awaiting trial for bailable offences.
“I urge the Judiciary to provide leadership in this matter and the Attorney-General to initiate necessary engagements in this respect.”
The Head of State noted the need for a shift in the correctional services model from punishment and retribution to rehabilitation and correction.
This, he said, has so far proved to open up key possibilities in his government’s development agenda, while also addressing overcrowding in prisons, freeing up land in urban centres for critical public services and providing more space to accommodate prison population and training facilities.
“The cabinet secretaries responsible for Interior and Public Works have been instructed to urgently develop a prisons masterplan which will be used to identify and develop new prison sites. This will provide ample opportunities to impart necessary skills, training and education through correctional services in the spirit of rehabilitation and reform,” he said.
The president was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Commissioner-General of Prisons John Warioba, among other leaders, were present.