Garissa prison frees 69 inmates to serve community service as Judiciary moves to decongest jails
Judges Lucy Gitari and John Onyiego oversaw the release of 69 Garissa Medium Prison inmates to community service, part of a nationwide Judiciary effort to ease overcrowded correctional facilities.
A total of 69 inmates have been released from Garissa Medium Prison to serve the remainder of their sentences through community service, in a nationwide push by the Judiciary to ease congestion in correctional facilities.
The release exercise was led by Kitui High Court Presiding Judge, Lady Justice Lucy Gitari, who said the initiative follows persistent concerns by the Prisons Service over overcrowding.
"We have had the responsibility this month to reduce the number of inmates because the Prisons Service has been lamenting congestion," Justice Gitari said. "We evaluated the cases of inmates who qualify to serve their sentences outside through community service. Out of 126 inmates here, we have been able to release 69."
She urged the freed inmates to cooperate with local administrators, police, and communities and cautioned that anyone who fails to report to their assigned community service stations will be arrested and returned to prison.
Justice Gitari also revealed that 11 inmates were denied release after probation reports indicated community members, complainants, parents, or local administrators were opposed to their early discharge.
Garissa High Court Presiding Judge John Onyiego encouraged communities to embrace the reintegration process and support the released inmates instead of stigmatising them.
"It is not our wish as the Judiciary to fill the prisons," Justice Onyiego said. "Being released to work in community service does not mean they are free. This is a legal sentence like any other. When they come home, accept them so that they can reform and avoid repeating mistakes."
The Judiciary continues its review of eligible inmates across the country in an accelerated effort to ease pressure on prison facilities.
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