Thika prison has received foodstuffs and other essentials from the Judiciary to improve the living conditions and sanitation of the facility.

The facility received blankets, soap, foodstuffs, fumigation machines, detergents and mattresses, all geared towards improving inmates' conditions.

This comes a month after the facility experienced a cholera outbreak, with more than 35 inmates hospitalised of the disease.

The Prison’s-In-Charge, Karani Limaye, said the items come as a boost as they grapple with overcrowding at the facility.

He said the prison meant to hold 300 inmates has over 1,300 prisoners, making them overwhelmed.

Limaye expressed confidence that the overcrowding challenge is being sorted out.

Further, he appealed to other Kenyans of goodwill to follow suit by supporting in whichever way they can.

During a recent visit by Correctional Services Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni, it was revealed that efforts are underway to shift some prisoners to the nearby Yatta, Murang’a and Ruiru prisons.

The PS said prisoners should lead decent lives, and thus the need to decongest the Thika prison.

Thika Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo, who led the donation exercise, said the donations resulted from a good collaboration between stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System.

Atambo said the Judiciary and Court Users’ Committee are working around the clock to tackle congestion in prison. They are currently reviewing a list of 162 cases of petty offenders in a bid to prefer Non-Custodial Sentences.

She added that every Friday, the court sends a Magistrate to visit the prison to review bond terms, among the raft of measures of decongesting the Prison.