Kenya Prisons Service Units
Kenya Prisons Service Units | See details of the unit of Kenya Prisons Service
Correctional facilities in Kenya have previously been criticized for humiliating prisoners and failing to observe Human Rights, despite the formation of the Kenya Prisons Service Units which is in charge of such reforms.
The Kenya Police Officers who are in charge of ensuring that all citizens are safe by keeping law offenders behind bars are recruited on an annual basis the trained at the Kenya Prisons Staff Training College in Ruiru for a period of 6 months.
According to Section 3 Cap 2 of the Prisons Act in the Constitution the Kenya Prison Officers ranking was revised as follows;
Old Ranking New Ranking
Commissioner of Prisons Commissioner-General of Prisons
Chief Officer 1 Chief Inspector of Prisons
Chief Officer 11 Inspector of Prisons
Warder (Known as the prison guard) Prisons Constable
This new change in the ranking was aimed at changing reforms in the Kenyan Prisons police unit.
The Kenya Prisons Service, headed by the commissioner of prisons was established in 1991 under
the Ministry of Home Affairs, Heritage and Sports.
In Kenya, there are 92 correctional institutions. These are; 89 prisons, two borstals; and one youth training centre.
Since their formation, prisons have gone through a number of reforms that has seen inmates enjoy facilities such as television sets, computers and educational facilities. This is because the Kenya’s correctional facilities intend to cultivate good morals in the inmates as compared to humiliation as often perceived by the outside public.
The Kenya Prisons Service police unit also ensures that inmates receive better standards of living making them more accommodating and developing a human attitude, save for a few correctional facilities which are currently being worked on.
These officers have undergone through proper training which equips them with the ability to also counsel the inmates, guide them and take them through the correctional process in readiness for joining the community after their service.