Forty one prisoners have been released from Kisii GK prison in an exercise that is meant to decongest the correctional facility.
Speaking to hivisasa in his office on Monday, Prison superintendent, Mr. Siomi Mohammad said most of those freed were petty offenders serving jail sentences of between one and three years.
He revealed the decongestion exercise was ongoing whereby more prisoners would be released upon a directive from the High Court.
“Currently the facility contains more than 1300 prisoners, this is 500 higher than the required capacity,” he said.
The prison boss said the situation in the prison has exacerbated in the face of the ongoing crackdown on illicit brew.
“The prison is supposed to serve about three courts but we are overstretched to serve other areas like Oyugis, Nyamira, Keroka, Ogembo and Kilgoris which lack correctional facilities in their areas,” Mr Mohammad said.
He said the problem of congestion in facility can be addressed if a correctional facility was established in each county.
“This problem will not go away soon even after the release of the 41. If a prison was set up in each county, the problem can be solved.”
According to Kisii County Commander of police, Mr Simon Kiragu, more than 200 people were arrested last week in the ongoing crackdown on illicit brew in the county.