The cabinet has given the green light to the proposed Power of Mercy Bill, 2025, a bill that, if passed, will allow more inmates in Kenyan prisons to be released early.
In a cabinet dispatch on Tuesday, July 30, the Cabinet noted that the bill aims to modernize the presidential pardon, which will introduce a new framework for pardons and engineer a system that will allow President William Ruto to secure the early release of more fully rehabilitated inmates.
According to the Cabinet, the bill aims to ease overcrowding in prisons, which will also, in turn, reduce the estimated annual cost the government spends to cater to the needs of an inmate.
"Additionally, the Cabinet approved the Power of Mercy Bill, 2025, which aims to clarify the implementation of Article 133 of the Constitution and modernise the presidential pardon system," the dispatch read.
"The proposed law introduces a structured, accountable framework for pardons, including mechanisms for supervised early release of fully rehabilitated inmates," it added.
Furthermore, the bill, through the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee, will establish reinforced reintegration protocols that will enhance public safety, according to the Cabinet.
"The Bill also enhances public safety through reintegration protocols and repeals outdated provisions under Cap. 94, reinforcing the mandate of the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee," the dispatch read.
Since January, President Ruto has secured the release of more than 4,500 prisoners, including petty offenders who serve shorter sentences and prisoners who were sentenced to longer sentences, through official pardons.
In a statement on Monday, April 28, the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, revealed that the president had granted constitutional release to 56 Kenyans and one foreigner, who was a citizen of the East African Community (EAC) and was granted a conditional and repatriation release.
Additionally, the Head of State also extended amnesty to all petty offenders sentenced to six months or less and offenders serving sentences longer than six months, whose remaining terms are six months or less.
One month later, in an official Gazette Notice dated Friday, May 23, the president ordered the release of 4,799 prisoners, which included 2,135 petty offenders who had been sentenced to six months, and 2,664 prisoners who had six months or less remaining in their sentences.
“The President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, upon the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the Power of Mercy, remitted the unexpired portion of the respective sentences,” read part of the notice.
