𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Hon. George Murugara has asked the Department of Correctional Services to prioritize its budgetary needs over wants in the 2024 Budget Policy Statement (BPS).

Principal Secretary, Dr. Salome Beacco, appeared before the Committee seeking an allocation of Kshs.23 billion to cater to various planned projects.

“The prison sector, unlike other sectors, has not undergone much change despite the developments and population increase witnessed in Kenya. Some of our facilities are in a dire state, they have not undergone any improvement since the colonial Government left. This is the reason we really need financial injection for us to bring sanity to the sector,” said Dr. Beacco.

Hon. Murugara, however, told the PS to prioritize the Department’s need considering the current economic state of the country.

 “Your requests, however logical they may be, cannot all be met with the country’s current economic state of affairs. What will you prioritise if we get you funds?” asked Hon. Murugara.  

Hon. Murugara added that the prison system has the potential to generate a lot of revenue in the form of Appropriation In Aid (A.I.A).

“You should make use of the prison workshops that are renowned for producing quality products such as furniture,” he said.

 Hon. Michael Muchira (Ol-Jorok), on his part, advised the State Department to seek alternative models of funding to subsidize the already stretched budget.

“Are you engaging other stakeholders to bridge the financial gaps that you have? For instance, I have partnered with the NG-CDF to put up staff quarters for the Nyahururu GK prison in the past,” Hon. Muchira said.

 Among the proposed projects that the State Department intends to undertake include the construction of perimeter fences, construction of staff quarters, acquisition of motor vehicles, purchase of prison uniforms, and mechanization of the prison system.