PAN-AFRICAN ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE ON ADVANCING COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS TO KICK OFF TOMORROW

By Nicholas Kigondu

All is set for the Pan-African Round Table Conference on Advancing Community Corrections which kicks off on Tuesday in Nairobi.

In a meeting with UK Minister for sentencing, youth justice and international justice   Hon. Jake Richards, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the two days conference will further strengthen Kenya-UK cooperation in correctional services, sentencing reform, youth justice and probation systems.

This even as he lauded the United Kingdom for the continued support in the Security Sector. 

While giving assurance over his country’s continued support, Hon. Jake Richards said the United Kingdom endeavors to support Kenya in ongoing efforts to build a better correctional system.

According to Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco, the conference will provide critical insights on how to enhance non-custodial measures and community-based rehabilitation in the country.

The two-day conference focuses on shifting from punitive to rehabilitation-focused, non-custodial sentences by promoting human rights-based corrections, including parole, community supervision, and reintegration to reduce prison populations.

In September last year, Kenya played host to a Consultative Workshop to advance Operationalization of African Commission Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) resolutions.

The three-day high-level meeting organized by the State Department for Correctional Services in partnership with the Raoul Walleberg Institute brought together Chiefs of Correctional Services from 14 African countries for a strategic, high-level exchange on persistent and emerging challenges, with the aim of catalyzing practical, rights-based, and regionally grounded solutions that are sustainable and scalable.