Siaya: The Probation and After Care services have significantly contributed to reducing prison overcrowding, with the inmate population now nearly equal to those serving non-custodial sentences, as stated by Principal Secretary for Correctional Services, Dr. Salome Beacco. During her address in Siaya town, where she officiated the opening of staff houses at the Siaya Female Probation hostels, Beacco highlighted that prisons across the nation currently hold approximately 60,000 inmates, a figure that matches those serving non-custodial sentences through Probation Services.

According to Kenya News Agency, Beacco remarked that several years ago, the number of individuals serving custodial sentences was double that of those involved in community corrections. She emphasized the effectiveness of community corrections, mentioning that excessive incarceration can undermine the fundamental unit of society. The State Department for Correction and After Care Services is collaborating with other stakeholders to enhance community involvement in rehabilitating offenders, introducing the concept of community probation volunteers, which is being piloted in four counties.

These volunteers are influential community members who aid officers in comprehending the dynamics between the community and offenders, providing counseling to facilitate reintegration. Beacco likened this initiative to traditional practices where communities resolved societal issues independently of the prison system. She was joined by Siaya County Commissioner Nobert Komora and his deputy, Robert Ng'etich, among others, during the event.

However, Beacco cautioned that not all offenders are suitable for community service, noting that serious offenders, such as those convicted of murder or robbery with violence, will still require incarceration. The Siaya Female Probation hostel is a unique facility in the country, catering to female probation offenders who may be accompanied by their children or are pregnant. It serves as a rehabilitation center for those guilty of offenses like child neglect and petty crimes, often driven by poverty.