Eldoret: In a significant move to address the housing deficit for prison staff, the State Department for Correctional Services, in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Public Works, has formed a technical team to oversee the refurbishment of prison warders’ quarters. The initiative aims to provide quality housing for prison staff across Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, the pressing need for better housing for prison warders led to the formation of this partnership. During a press briefing at the Eldoret GK Main Prison, Ms. Beacco discussed ongoing consultations with the PS Housing and Urban Development to explore solutions under the President’s affordable housing initiative.
The team, including Commissioner General of Prisons Brigadier (Rtd) John Warioba and Secretary of Probation and Aftercare Services Dr. Christine Obondi, is conducting a fact-finding mission. Their aim is to inspect completed and ongoing projects, as well as address stagnation issues in order to expedite progress.
Ms. Beacco also highlighted efforts towards staff reorganisation for probation and after-service officers, focusing on promotions for those who have long been in the same job group. This reorganisation is part of a broader strategy to ensure effective succession planning in management roles.
Additionally, Ms. Beacco reassured Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) staff about ongoing promotion processes, emphasizing that it is a continuous effort and those yet to be promoted will be addressed in due course.
The department is also collaborating with the chair of Community Service Orders (CSO) to enhance visits by CSO teams to prisons nationwide. This initiative aims at decongesting facilities by considering the release of offenders nearing the end of their terms and petty offenders through CSO.
Furthermore, the State Department for Correctional Services is working with stakeholders and development partners to set up a high-quality daycare centre for children residing with their mothers at the Eldoret Women’s Prison.
On the environmental front, Ms. Beacco noted the department’s achievement in planting 500,000 tree seedlings during the national tree-growing day. With a target to plant 1.5 million trees by the end of the rainy season, this effort is part of the department’s annual goal to grow 100 million trees, contributing to national reforestation efforts.