Kenya’s national government plans to put up over 5,000 decent houses for the Kenyan warders in a bid to improve their living conditions and standards.
Isaiah Osugo, the Commissioner General of Prisons said the project which will be implemented in three years, is afoot and will be of benefit to officers manning correction and rehabilitation centers all over the country.
While addressing prisons staff at the opening of a temporary women’s wing at Mwingi GK Prison, Mwingi Central recently, the the Commissioner General of Prisons said the government is fully committed to providing acceptable and decent living standards for wardens and other staff.
“The President himself is very serious about the housing programme. The government is determined to ensure you have decent houses inside the prison premises so that you can be comfortable as you work,” he said.
He also added that houses for prisoners will also be built.
He noted that the programme has started in Shimo la Tewa, Ruiru and Kamiti prisons and will be rolled out to other prison facilities by 2018.
“We are going to do decent houses, both two and three-bedroom units which will enable our officers accommodate Kenyan warders and their families,” he said.
Mr Osugo added that this program will help in addressing shortage of staff houses that has forced many prison officers to rent houses away from their working stations.
The Prison commissioner said nearly 1,500 housing units will be completed by the end of the current financial year, adding that Mwingi GK Prison will get 50 housing units.
He also praised the President’s move on Mashujaa Day to pardon 7,000 prisoners by power of mercy.
He lauded the decision noting that it has saved more than Sh400 million as well help in decongesting prisons.