State To Decongest Thika Prison Following Cholera Outbreak

The government plans to shift inmates from Thika prison to Ruiru and Murang’a prisons to decongest the facility.

This follows a cholera outbreak that hit the facility in which 38 inmates contracted the disease in the past week.

Correctional Services Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the facility, which has a capacity of 500, now holds over 1,200 inmates, making it difficult to contain such an ailment on time.

The PS said the decongestion programme would reduce the numbers considerably to ensure the inmates live decently.

Speaking after touring the facility to assess the cholera status yesterday, the PS said the government is also working with neighbouring courts of Kandara, Thika and Ruiru to reduce the number of inmates admitted at the Thika prison.

She said offenders who have been sentenced will be spread across the neighbouring prisons to ease congestion in Thika prison.

While noting that they have managed to contain the virus, the PS said it would have been easier had the facility not been crowded.

“We have managed to contain the disease. From the over 38 inmates who contracted the virus over the past one week, only seven are still sick. The remaining 30 are stable. However, one is critical and is hospitalized,” she said.

She also gave the jail administration instructions to ensure that any new inmates are examined for the illness before being admitted to the facility.

This comes after it was discovered that fresh convicts who had received sentences from the Ruiru and Kandara courts were the source of the disease's entry into the prison.

“Going forward, we want to ensure that before new prisoners are admitted at the facility, they get tested for cholera. That way, we will end new infections,” she said.

Further, she said they are working on drilling boreholes and procuring new bowsers to ensure the facility has flowing water even during rationing.