Former Chief Justice David Maraga was taken aback during his visit to Shimo la Tewa prison on a mission under the police task force.
Visiting the institution on Tuesday, February, 7, Maraga, who is the National Police and Prisons Reforms Taskforce chair, was informed by the facility management that its title deed could not be traced.
He took up the issue indicating that he would follow up with the authorities in charge so that the institution could be issued with its legal documents.
“We are going to seek that evidence from the Lands office because our job is to get a title deed or to recommend that a title deed be given for government land that is occupied by the prisons and the police,” he stated.
Part of the land was also reported to be under dispute as there was a private developer who was claiming ownership and another private hotel had also been constructed on the facility’s land.
The task force had noted that the prison had a very big piece of land that could be put to use by the government in developing the facility.
“We just need more resources on them. If more of these buildings would be put up they would be very happy. They are living in dignified premises.
The good thing is that Shimo la Tewa has a big land of more than 800 acres which can serve the government very well,” he noted.
The piece of land also hosts Shimo la Tewa Boys, Mama Ngina Girls, Boston Institute, and Shanzu Law Courts.
He lauded the former regime of ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta for having constructed modern houses for the prison officers.
I am told that the initiative was started by former president Kenyatta. It is a very good initiative I want to commend former President Kenyatta for this,” he announced.
He however challenged the government to make use of the piece of land at the correctional facility to develop more modern houses for the officers.
