State moves 98 young offenders to new prison in Kamiti

Children outside the newly opened juvenile remand after a move by the government to transfer 98 Juvenile Suspects of various offenses to a separate new modern correction facility at Kamiti prison. Photo WILLIS AWANDU

The Government has transferred 98 juvenile suspects to a new, modern correction facility at Kamiti Maximum Prison in Nairobi.

Commissioner General of Prisons Isaiah Osugo said the facility will accommodate suspects below 18 years old as they undergo their trials in courts.

He said the 98 juveniles have been charged with various serious offences among them robbery with violence, murder, rape, defilement and they are being tried at various courts in Nairobi.

Mr Osugo said the facility is the first to be built in the country since independence to accommodate young offenders. "Our aim is to provide a conducive environment for the offenders as they are tried for various offences," Osugo said.

Speaking yesterday while receiving the suspects from the Industrial Area Remand Prison, he said they were separating the juvenile from the adult cells to provide them with a modern living environment.

"This is part of our reform process in correction facilities in the country. We have built a modern, child-prison facility that will separately accommodate boy and girl offenders who are below 18 years," he added.

Jane Kirii, the Officer in charge of the facility at Kamiti Maximum Prison, said the Youth Corrective Training Centre, which was founded in December 1962 is home to 52 youth convicts serving terms not exceeding four months.

She said some girls who are below 18 years will be moved next week from Lang'ata Women's Prison to a new facility at Kamiti. "The main purpose of the facility is to deter youthful offenders from criminal activities through vigorous training and a counselling programme dubbed 'short sharp shock'," she said.

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