STATE DEPARTMENT FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES RECEIVE THREE TITLES, INTENSIFY EFFORTS TO SECURE PRISON LAND

By Martha Munyambu

The government has intensified efforts to secure land belonging to the country’s correctional services in a bid to recover resources targeted by grabbers.
Speaking during a meeting with a technical committee tasked with acquiring title deeds for all prison land, State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco said the efforts have seen the department secure ownership documents for more pieces of land including for Mwea, Maranjau, and Mwingi Prisons along with allotment letters for several additional correctional facilities. 

The Principal Secretary expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts that contributed to the success and extended gratitude to the lands ministry and the National Land Commission through Vice Chair Gertrude Nguku and Jane Maina, Deputy Director of Lands, for their support. 

"This achievement marks a major milestone in securing prison assets and ensuring that correctional facilities possess the necessary ownership documentation," stated the Principal Secretary. 

She said the encroachment of sections of land owned by the Kenya Prisons Service has led to a reduction in acreage compromising the ability of the state department to carry out its correctional services effectively.

Efforts to reclaim prison land which had been illegally acquired by private individuals have been hampered by numerous litigations by the illegal settlers with encroachers appealing court decisions, in instances where the Kenya Prisons Services have obtained favourable rulings.

Photo by Patrick Ambani