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{
"id": 787754,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/787754/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13131,
"legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
"slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
},
"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, it was a Statement on the status of women held in prisons and remand facilities in Kenya. She asked for the statistics of women and children, which were given per the former provinces, based on how our prisons are currently structured. In total, we have 2,984 women and 274 children accompanying the mothers. She asked for the capacity of the facilities vis-à-vis the women. Those numbers have been given and so, we know where the shortfalls are in the different provinces. The total prison capacity is 3,124 and we have 2,984 currently in prisons. The third question was on the number of trained personnel manning the facilities and whether they are sufficient to guarantee the safety and security of the detainees. The response clearly shows a total of 3,448. Out of these, there is a good number of female officers who are dealing with that matter. The curriculum is listed in there and all initiatives to deal with specialized manpower, because women in prisons must be looked at in a special manner. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the fourth question was about whether they enjoy their rights and fundamental freedoms in line with Article 51 of the Constitution. The response highlights the reforms that have been made in our prisons over time, including all female prisons being headed by female officers, visitors of male officers being restricted to certain times, medical services and allowing family members to visit. There are a total of 11 initiatives that are listed and are currently going on. This report will be available to all Senators to see. There is also the special provision for children who are accompanying their mothers. This includes early childhood education, freedom to stay with their mothers up to the age of 4 years, daycare centres, medical care for children, pediatric attention and other such initiatives. In addition, there is registration of newborn children by the Registrar of Persons, so that they can also get their birth certificates while in the prisons. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the fifth and final question, was on the measures that have been put in place to ensure safety and security of women and children in correctional facilities. The first one was the establishment of new prisons and a borstal institution for girls. They go on to elucidate that up until six initiatives. There is the issue of Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, which is very important currently in most of the prisons, especially the female prisons. They have acquired modern working equipment, which includes metal detectors, permanent walls, vehicles that are designed to ensure security and a unique key system. Finally, there is the issue of upgrade of prisons to maximum security status. Some of the prisons have grown in population; prisons with serious offenders have been upgraded. Therefore, effective management requires exposure and adoption of relevant rehabilitation programs. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the intention, focus and philosophy of our prison facilities is not to have more prisons, but to have less prisons and rehabilitate the women and men who are in our prisons as it is. I will table the response. Thank you. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}