Prison deaths in Kenya hit nine-year high of 210 in 2024 amid overcrowding and poor conditions
Despite the decline in deaths early in the decade, 208,971 persons were committed to prison in 2024, down from 248,061 in 2023.
Deaths in Kenya’s prisons surged to a nine-year high in 2024, highlighting longstanding problems of overcrowding, violence and poor conditions in correctional facilities.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that 210 inmates died last year, the highest number since 2015 when 261 people lost their lives, raising concerns among human rights experts over the urgent need for reforms.
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In 2016, at least 187 inmates died in Kenyan prisons, followed by 176 in 2017, 119 in 2018, 83 in 2019, 78 in 2020, 113 in 2021, 116 in 2022, 146 in 2023 and 210 in 2024, marking a nine-year high.
Despite the decline in deaths early in the decade, 208,971 persons were committed to prison in 2024, down from 248,061 in 2023. The decrease was attributed to a reduction in both convicted and unconvicted prisoners.
Convicted inmates fell from 80,071 in 2023 to 61,175 in 2024, while unconvicted prisoners awaiting trial dropped from 167,990 to 147,796. The daily average prison population was 59,013, slightly lower than 61,915 in 2023.
Trends in sentencing
The statistics also revealed changing trends in sentencing. Short-term sentences of less than one month decreased from 22,444 in 2015 to 9,458 in 2024, while prisoners serving one month to less than two years also declined from 52,589 to 38,822 over the same period. However, longer sentences of two years or more increased to 12,611 in 2024, suggesting a rise in serious or repeat offences.
"Life imprisonment and death sentences remained low, with 191 and 93 inmates respectively in 2024," the Statistical Abstract by KNBS shows.
Remand prisoners continue to account for the majority of the population, with 146,589 awaiting trial in 2024. Civil debt cases, previously a minor portion, slightly increased to 1,207. The number of previously convicted prisoners dropped sharply to 7,109, reflecting fewer repeat offenders or possible improvements in rehabilitation and alternative sentencing.
Wide array of offences
The statistics also show that prisoners in Kenya are held for a wide array of offences, with 8,116 inmates convicted for offences related to the order and administration of lawful authority, while 4,646 were jailed for crimes injurious to the public.
Crimes against persons accounted for 7,880 convictions, and 10,233 inmates were imprisoned for property-related offences. Additionally, 1,557 were convicted for attempts and conspiracies, with smaller numbers serving time for employment-related violations (622), liquor offences (13,828), drug-related crimes (3,626), registration of persons offences (871) and a variety of other cases (9,796).
Human rights advocates have warned that overcrowding, delayed trials and inhumane conditions are contributing to a dangerous environment that endangers inmates’ lives and erodes public confidence in the justice system.
They stress that without urgent reforms, including faster trials, improved prison conditions, and better healthcare, Kenya’s prison system will continue to claim lives and undermine the justice system’s credibility.
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