Cover-ups in prisons deny inmates justice, rights groups warn

Kalia Kambanella, Dignity Senior Legal Advisor, addresses the Press at EKA Hotel in Nairobi, on August,11, 2025, during a five-day training course on preventive monitoring of prisons. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard] Human rights organisations have raised concerns over what they describe as a persistent culture of cover-ups in Kenya's prisons. They said cases of torture, severe injuries, and even deaths in custody often go unreported or are disclosed only after external pressure. This emerged during a week-long training in Nairobi that brought together the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), and other partners. The training, organised by the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) and a Danish anti-torture organisation, Dignity, aimed at equipping human rights actors and other monitors with the skills to detect, document, and prevent abuse in places of detention. According to Grace Wangechi, Executive Director of IMLU, the culture of cover-ups and non-disclosure in Kenya's prisons is frustrating efforts to protect the rights and dignity of inmates. "Our biggest challenge is the ability of correctional services to come forward when something happens. We have seen cases where there is a deliberate cover-up, where investigations are hindered, and where incidents are only reported to us through families," said Wangechi. While public attention often focuses on police brutality, Wangechi stated that prison abuse remains an under-reported area in Kenya's human rights struggle. "We have noted that torture also happens in places of detention, specifically in prisons and correctional services," said Wangechi. She warned that lack of disclosure not only shields perpetrators from accountability but also robs victims of timely medical and psychosocial support that could save lives. "We must have a system where accountability by those in charge of inmates is real, so that when something happens, they take responsibility, report it, and ensure access to services. Cover-up will need to stop completely," she emphasised. Foluso Adegalu, a programme officer at NANHRI, said preventive monitoring is designed to strengthen KNCHR's and other rights groups' capacity to conduct prison visits, assess conditions, and collaborate with stakeholders pushing for prison reforms. KNCHR Deputy Director Veronica Mwangi stressed that freedom from torture is guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution and is a non-derogable right. "Even in emergencies, torture is never allowed. Yet we still see incidents in prisons, police stations, immigration holding centres, and even care institutions. ''The law gives us the mandate to investigate, but limited resources make systematic inspections difficult," said Mwangi. Kalia Kambanella, a Senior Legal Adviser at Dignity pointed out that the risk of abuse is not unique to Kenya and that it manifests in different forms. "Globally, prisons are places where human rights violations can flourish if there is no independent oversight," said Kambanella. Karin Hansen, a medical doctor at Dignity, emphasised that untreated diseases in prisons could be a time bomb if they spill over into the wider communities. ""Prison health is public health. Staff can contract illnesses from sick inmates, and prisoners released without treatment can spread those diseases throughout the wider community."

Cover-ups in prisons deny inmates justice, rights groups warn

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