Having majority of energetic people behind bars has continued depriving the country of its workforce, meant to drive its economy for the achievement of a sustainable development agenda.
The Principal Secretary, State Department of National Government, Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination, Josephita Mukobe has lamented that energetic people, who are supposed to contribute to the country's economy are languishing in prisons across the country.
Speaking during a tour of the Kisii GK Main prison, Mukobe disclosed that majority of the prisoners fall under the age bracket of between 20 and 49, a category of Kenyans she said were at their prime age and energetic to execute duties of nation building.
Accompanied by the facility's Officer in Charge, SSP Simon Mohamed, Kisii County Commissioner, Chege Mwangi among other state officers, the PS expressed concern that dependable and energetic people were driven into crime, instead of using their energies in building the country's economy.
“If majority of you people are within the age bracket of 20 and 49, the prime age that is relied upon to provide the country with its workforce, then who is playing your role outside there to ensure the country moves forward? Posed Mukobe
She absolved the police prosecutors from blame that they contributed to the woes of majority of Kenyans in prisons through alleged framed up charges and defective charge sheets.
“Some of you here are shifting the blame to the police prosecutors for committing you to jail through alleged framed up charges. Then who raped that 84-year old woman in the village if it is not one of you? asked Mukobe.