Chuka Prison in Tharaka Nithi County is facing relocation from its current location at the headquarters at Kathwana to pave way for the expansion of the rapidly growing urban centre.

The County Government plans to move it to a five-acre piece of land at Kabariange.

 Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki has disclosed the relocation of the prison will pave way for the construction of a Level Five medical facility at the rapidly growing Kathwana Township.

 Governor Njuki has undertaken to renovate the prison to better the accommodation conditions of the prisoners.

“I will renovate the prison equip it with television sets for the inmates, additional mattresses to meet the rule of one person one mattress,” he said.

Further, the governor has also promised to to pay fines or bond for all inmates amounting to less than Kes10,000.

Speaking during the inspection of the prison, Principal Secretary (PS) Correctional Services Ms. Mary Muthoni Muriuki called on the prison wardens to enlighten the inmate on case reviews and their right to defend themselves before the judges in court .

She also urged them to log into the Power of Mercy any time it is conducted and recommend the names of the inmates who have reformed to be released as a way of decongesting the prison.

“These are productive people in the society and we need them out there," said the PS.

Additionally, Ms Muthoni asked the probation officer to always send counsellors and other officers from the department to educate the inmates over the law of Kenya so that they leave the prison better informed and less likely to commit similar offences once back to the society.

To add to that, she called on the prison wardens to enlighten those inmates on remand awaiting conclusion of their cases on alternative conflict resolution between them and the complainant.

 And even those serving sentences so that they can be reconciled with the complainants even before they are released.

“If an issue can be sorted let it be done even at home other than going to court so that we ensure our prisons are not congested due to petty issues,” emphasized the PS.

She further elaborated over ‘remote visit’ which was used in prisons before Covid-19 struck that the Correctional departments.