The government has announced the release of an estimated 300 prisoners from jails across Western Kenya.
The move came as the government embarked on decongesting jails that are said to be currently strained beyond their recommended capacity.
Those released had been convicted of minor offenses who were serving a term of 3 years or below.
[caption caption="A congested prison facility"]
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Following the directive, the released convicts will be involved in community work as part of their rehabilitation - a process that will also see them accepted back in the society.
The prison officers expressed confidence that those who were released had fully reformed and would be constructively involved in giving back to the community.
In the move, an estimated 10,000 prisoners are expected to be released from Kenyan prisons across the country before the end of 2018.
During a visit at Kamiti Maximum Prison in Mid-April, the Correctional Services Principal Secretary Alfred Cheruyiot admitted the myriad of challenges facing prisons including overcrowding, accumulation of pending bills, transport, and shortage in housing for the wardens.
According to Cheruyiot, despite the challenges that prisons are facing, the government's resolve remains unabated on turning prisons into self-sustaining entities.
The PS further stated that the correctional facilities should be able to source for their own revenue by harnessing on the skills and labor of those incarcerated in the facilities.
[caption caption="PS Alfred Cheruyiot cooking ugali at Kamiti Prison"]
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He also encouraged the warders to see the problems at hand as opportunities that would propel the correctional facility to greater heights.
