President William Ruto, on Friday, December 2, ordered the Cabinet Secretaries for Treasury, Agriculture and Interior to develop a model allowing prisoners to supply Kenyans with farm produce.
The president underscored that prisoners are an important part of Kenyan society that must actively participate in uplifting the country's economy.
"We have to work on modalities that allow our prisoners to produce food, then sell their goods to the government and the general population," Ruto confirmed.
He has also clarified that the proceeds of that engagement will assist the individual prisoners, their loved ones and the prison community.
"The prisoners will produce food on at least ten thousand acres of land across the country," the president ordered.
Ruto also noticed that the prison holds some of the most notorious people away from society.
"Our prisons play a key role in helping fight terrorism. It's vital for government agencies to put in place measures that will curb terrorists activities within prison," the president noted.
On his part, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki asked the President to help recover thousands of acres of land grabbed by unscrupulous business people.
"Kindly, Mr President, we need your support as we embark on the recovery process. These pieces of land belong to the people of Kenya, not individuals," CS Kindiki pleaded.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary also asked the President to support his reform agenda for the prison.
He noted that prisoners and warders live in filthy environments, which is very dangerous to their health and security.
"We have to boost the morale of our warders by ensuring that their work environment is well established," the Interior CS noted.
The reforms will target housing, education, administration and prisoners' residential places.
