President sets free 7,000 petty offenders as police warn the move could raise crime

by Cyrus Ombati

More than 7,000 petty offenders have been released from prison.

The move threw the police into a spin once again, fearing the former convicts had been set on society and could raise crime.

Most beneficiaries were set free under the presidential parole programme, while some were released after meeting specific conditions.

The conditions include good behaviour and those remaining with jail terms less than six months.

President Kibaki freed the prisoners on Tuesday as the country marked the 46th Kenyatta Day.

Prisons authorities said those released were petty offenders, whose terms were below six months, and had improved their behaviour.

Some 12 prisoners were set free from Kamiti Maximum Prison, which usually holds hardcore criminals.

On Wednesday, Commissioner of Prisons Isaiah Osugo said those freed met the required conditions for Presidential Amnesty.

In order

"It is in order for the President to pardon convicts and all those who rejoined their families had met the conditions for the same," he said.

Mr Osugo, a former CID officer, said some of them were jailed for being drunk and disorderly, adding the move will help to decongest prisons.

But police expressed fears the move could lead to an upsurge in crime ahead of the Christmas season. They seemed unaware of the move, but welcomed it, and warned they would confront those who had been set free if they go back to their past behaviour.

Police spokesman Erick Kiraithe said they have in the past faced difficulties from some former convicts and faulted the process of releasing them.

He said the department was making various recommendations on some of the laws governing the process of parole to ensure only those who qualify are set free.