146 prisoners have been released from various prisons in Machakos County.
The inmates were released in the ongoing national program to decongest prisons on Tuesday.
63 of them were released from Machakos GK Prison among them 55 men and 8 women while others were released from Athi - River GK and Yatta Prisons.
The exercise witnessed by the Machakos County Commissioner Matilda Sakwa, Regional Probation officer Ann Kimathi and Machakos Prison's Boss Yusuf Kaitopok is a High Court Review initiative to have prisoners with less than three years sentence term released through Probation and Aftercare Department to do community service outside the prisons.
"The Probation Department has processed 205 files of inmates from Machakos County and given various recommendations," Ms Kimathi said.
The inmates planted 1050 trees before they were released.
Machakos County Commissioner Matilda Sakwa advised the released prisoners to remain peaceful and avoid crime stating that the government will monitor their behavior outside prison.
"Whenever we release prisoners, there is usually an upsurge of crime. You will be the first suspect if there is crime in your area," she said.
Sakwa urged the public to accept the released prisoners and re-integrate them into the society.
Machakos Prison's boss Kaitopok said the prison has a capacity of holding 900 inmates.
Kaitopok said the programme will create space in the facility and make the officers' work easier.
66-year-old Mary Mutinda from Kangundo Sub County who had been arrested in connection with selling bhang said she was happy to be free.
She told Machakos County residents to shun crime.
In Kitui County, 30 prisoners were also released.
They will be under probation officers while undergoing community work.