High court judge, Luka Kimaru, on Thursday, said there are plans to release about 5,000 petty offenders in different counties across the country.
The move is set to decongest prisons that have been housing more prisoners in relation to the required capacity.
According to statistics from the penal institutions, there are currently 55,000 prisoners against the required capacity of 32,000.
However, as petty offenders are expected to be released between April and May, no petty offenders will be released from Nyamira prisons.
According to High court judge Luka Kimaru who also doubles as the chairman of the Community Service Orders (CSO), not all offenders will be released.
"These are basically offenders serving a sentence of three years and below or who was sentenced to a longer period but have a sentence of three years or less remaining," said justice Kimaru.
Apart from decongesting prisons, the program is set to release prisoners so as to engage in community work as well.
The prisoners will also get an opportunity to unite with their families after being away for a long time.
It will also promote reconciliation and integration with the offended families.
As no petty offenders will be released in Nyamira and Taita-Taveta counties, Nairobi county will have the highest number of 624 with Marsabit the lowest of 26 prisoners released.
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