Bungoma GK prison unable to expand due to land grabbing

Coordination Principal Secretary Josephta Mukobe arrives at Bungoma GK Prison and is received by the Officer in Charge Henry Ochieng. She has decried high rate of land grabbing owned by prison department by the high and mighty in the society. (PHOTO: TITUS OTEBA/STANDARD)

Bungoma GK Prison has been unable to expand the facility to accommodate women inmates after its land was grabbed by developers.

Coordination Principal Secretary Josephta Mukobe says it has been a costly affair to transport women prisoners to Kakamega prison due to lack of the facility in Bungoma County.

Speaking yesterday after visiting the Bungoma facility in a routine tour of prisons, the PS regretted that the prison's lands had been grabbed by 'big people' in society who had already developed it.

"We are saddened by the state of affairs in our prisons where majority of land have been grabbed, making it impossible to carry out expansion," said Ms Mukobe.

She regretted that the government cannot construct good houses for prison warders, or expand the prisoners facilities.

PRIORITISE HOUSING

She called on the Lands Ministry to repossess all grabbed prison land so that they can be able to expand infrastructure. Currently, majority of the prisons are dilapidated, having been build during the colonial era.

The PS noted that the country has over 55,000 prisons, and asked the prison department to put its priorities right if it is to succeed in discharging it's duties.

She said Bungoma is one of the most populated counties and called on residents to support the existing facility so as to curb crime in the region. "This correctional facility also needs to be well fenced to help secure the prisoners," she said.

Warder in-charge Henry Ochieng appealed to the state to improve warden's housing, currently living in shanties.