Crisis at Naivasha Prison over blackout

A security crisis has hit the Naivasha GK Prison, the country's largest penal institution, after electricity supply was disconnected over an outstanding bill of around Sh9 million.

Following the Monday afternoon incident, fears of disease outbreak and riots in the prison which has over 3,000 inmates emerged.

The nearby Annex Prison which hosts inmates serving lesser sentences and the warders' homes were not spared either.

This came as it emerged that the prison stand-by generator broke down months ago and has not been repaired. Water supply to the prison has also been affected.

A source inside the prison admitted that tension was high among the hardcore inmates.

"We are seeking more security officers as there are fears that the inmates might use the darkness to riot and escape," said the source.

The officer in charge of the prison, Patrick Mwenda, said the blackout posed a major security threat, noting that it was the first time in the prison's history that electricity has been disconnected.

"Kenya Power has disconnected power supply to the prison and warders' quarters putting the lives of many Kenyans at risk," he said.

Mwenda said the warders do not have any pending bills and termed the disconnection malicious.