Why Kenya should rethink presidential pardon powers

President William Ruto signing bills in to at State House, Nairobi. [PCS]

The Head of Public Service vide a communique dated April 28, 2025, informed the general public that the President exercised his power of mercy provided for under Article 133 of the Constitution, also referred to as the pardon powers.

Specifically, the President let off 31 prisoners serving life sentences on conditional release, one foreign national of the East African partner state, remission and release to 25 individuals allowing for their discharge upon the remission of the unexpired portion of their custodial sentences, all petty offenders sentenced to six months or less and offenders serving sentences longer than six months but have remaining terms being six months or less.