Prisons have Sh4.7bn pending bills, says PS Powon

What you need to know:

  • Correctional Services Principal Secretary Micah Powon said pending bills for “food, rations and wood fuel” amounts to Sh4.7 billion.
  • The commissioner-general of prisons said meat was removed from the diet.
  • Prisons authorities were unable to provide some toiletries and other personal requirements to inmates.
  • Mr Osugo revealed prison officers require 25,000 houses but there are only 5,000 houses available.

Prisons are weighed down by debt, forcing authorities to remove some food from inmates’ diets.

Correctional Services Principal Secretary Micah Powon said pending bills for “food, rations and wood fuel” amounts to Sh4.7 billion.

He added that the current financial year has a shortfall of Sh4.2 billion in allocation for the food budget.

The commissioner-general of prisons said meat was removed from the diet and authorities were unable to provide some toiletries and other personal requirements to inmates. The two officials asked Parliament to increase funding to the department by Sh16 billion.

Mr Powon said Sh1 billion is required for “security and the upcoming general election”. Another Sh130 million is to pay allowances for recruits and Sh1.2 billion for fuel and transport. “Sometimes we fail to transport inmates to court,” said Mr Powon.

National Assembly Committee on National Security and Administration had summoned senior officials to present their views on the budget.

ASKED FOR MORE MONEY

The committee’s chairman Asman Kama

Prisons are weighed down by debt, forcing authorities to remove some food from inmates’ diets.

Correctional Services Principal Secretary Micah Powon said pending bills for “food, rations and wood fuel” amounts to Sh4.7 billion.

He added that the current financial year has a shortfall of Sh4.2 billion in allocation for the food budget.

The commissioner-general of prisons said meat was removed from the diet and authorities were unable to provide some toiletries and other personal requirements to inmates. The two officials asked Parliament to increase funding to the department by Sh16 billion.

Mr Powon said Sh1 billion is required for “security and the upcoming general election”. Another Sh130 million is to pay allowances for recruits and Sh1.2 billion for fuel and transport. “Sometimes we fail to transport inmates to court,” said Mr Powon.

National Assembly Committee on National Security and Administration had summoned senior officials to present their views on the budget.

ASKED FOR MORE MONEY

The committee’s chairman Asman Kamama (Tiaty) said they would seek better funding for the department.

Mr Powon also asked for more money to build houses for prison officers.

“The officers live in a terrible environment. In fact in some areas, inmates live better than officers,” he said.

Mr Osugo revealed prison officers require 25,000 houses but there are only 5,000 houses available.

The committee’s chairman Asman Kamama (Tiaty) said they would seek better funding for the department.

He told the senior officials: “Your issues are weighty and I think the ministry (Interior) needs to refocus on this department. We need to come to your rescue.”

ma (Tiaty) said they would seek better funding for the department.

Mr Powon also asked for more money to build houses for prison officers.

“The officers live in a terrible environment. In fact in some areas, inmates live better than officers,” he said.

Mr Osugo revealed prison officers require 25,000 houses but there are only 5,000 houses available.

The committee’s chairman Asman Kamama (Tiaty) said they would seek better funding for the department.

He told the senior officials: “Your issues are weighty and I think the ministry (Interior) needs to refocus on this department. We need to come to your rescue.”