Over 300 petty offenders serving sentences of less than 3 years are set to be released from prisons in Kiambu County.

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The prisoners are amongst the 5,000 prisoners who committed petty offences and are to be released according to Judge Luka Kimaru.

"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.

Judge Kimaru who also doubles up as the chairman of the Community Service Orders (CSO) not all offenders will be released.

The program is not only meant to release prisoners but also engage them in community work.

The judge said that the move will promote reconciliation and integration with offended families.

Statistics from the penal institutions revealed that there are currently 55,000 prisoners against the required number of 32,000.

624 petty offenders will be released in Nairobi and will be the highest.

Marsabit county will have only 26 prisoners released.

Petty offenders in Nyamira and Taita- Taveta counties will not be released.