KISUMU, Kenya, November 11th –The European Union and the State Department for Correctional Services have collaborated in installing a Sh 5.9 million solar system at the Kisumu Maximum Security Prison located in the Kodiaga area.
EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger said the entire system would go a long way in improving service delivery, such as virtual courts and minimising the disappearance of court files.
The diplomat Geiger, who was accompanied by the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Correctional Services, Salome Muhia Beacco, said the project is a massive one, which solarises the entire prison, which she noted, hosts over 2000 inmates.
The PS said the prison would now be without power cuts with virtual courts. She said justice will now be expedited and thanked the EU and other partners for funding the project.
Geiger said they have invested billions in the justice sector through its justice chain.
She said corrections are part of the justice system. The envoy said different parts of the justice system can now communicate with one another.
“Here we see saving costs which can then be reinvested in improving the conditions of the inmates,” she said.
Muhia said the project will be extended to the water project within the prison hence improving the hygiene of the place. She said the project is in line with the Greening Kenya Initiative.
Muhia said the prison would now be able to save resources. Such projects, she said, are ongoing at both Kericho and Shukusa prisons. Muhia said they would now save 70 percent to 100 percent of power and fuel.
She said court cases would now be expedited, adding that 48 percent of inmates are remandees, which, according to the PS, is too high by global standards.
Ms Muhia said the amount saved Muhia said the amount saved could now be channelled elsewhere, such as irrigation and producing more seedlings. She said they will be saving between Sh 100,000/- to Sh300, 000/- per month in power costs. Muhia said these are part of the transformational reforms currently taking place in correctional services across the country.
“We shall have recouped the funds in the next two to three years,” she said. She said the EU and the UNODC are undertaking the project.
Koen Marquering, Deputy Representative, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said they are also committed to improving the welfare of prison staff as well.
“It should be borne in mind that working under a prison condition where you take care of inmates is not very easy’’ Marquering said adding that they were very happy to collaborate with Kenya.
The official said they are committed to having minimal standards in prisons. He said the entire concept improves security and tackles the ravages of climate change.
“We are very happy to see this concept since it improves prison security and fights climate change through green energy”, he said.
Present at the event were the Commissioner General of the Kenya Prisons Service, Patrick Aranduh, the Kisumu Resident Judge, Alfred Mabeya and the County Commissioner, Mr Benson Leparmorijo.
