Members of Parliament in Kenya have launched a serious inquiry into the country’s prison system following troubling reports of widespread scams being run from within correctional facilities.
The lawmakers are now calling for urgent reforms to clean up the system and restore public trust.
During a heated session on Wednesday, April 23, with officials from the Kenya Prisons Service, MPs strongly questioned the leadership over several pressing issues.
These included rising cases of fraud inside prisons, poor living conditions, lack of transparency, and weak internal controls.
Tiaty MP William Kamket voiced one of the biggest concerns, warning that scams conducted by inmates were quickly becoming a national problem.
“Scamming has become widespread. It’s shaking the public’s confidence in our correctional system. What specific actions are being taken to stop this trend?” he asked.
Lawmakers said the continuous involvement of prisoners in fraud undermines the true purpose of the prison system. Instead of being places of rehabilitation, prisons are turning into hubs for crime, they noted.
The Commissioner General of the Kenya Prisons Service, Mr. Patrick Aranduh, struggled to answer the tough questions.
Although he admitted that scams are a real and growing problem, he did not provide a clear or convincing plan to eliminate the issue.
This left MPs demanding the introduction of stronger technological tools and stricter internal monitoring systems to help detect and prevent criminal activities within the prison walls.
Prison scams are some of the most common types of fraud in Kenya. Inmates often use phones to send text messages or make calls to innocent people, pretending to be in emergencies or offering fake opportunities in order to steal money.
Over time, these scams have become more advanced, with reports of inmates somehow getting access to civilians’ bank account details from inside their cells.
Lawmakers also raised questions about how money earned through prison labour is being used. Embakasi Central MP Mejja Donk Benjami pushed for a deep forensic audit of the Appropriations-in-Aid (AiA) account, which handles the revenue generated by prison work.
He believes a detailed review is necessary to prevent any misuse or theft of funds.
Eric Karemba, the Chairperson of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee, went a step further by questioning the legality of forced inmate labour under existing laws.
He hinted that the current setup could be allowing exploitation under the guise of rehabilitation.
Additionally, MPs expressed serious concerns over the poor conditions in which both inmates and prison officers live and work.
Maragua MP Mary Wamaua suggested that prison staff should receive hardship allowances, similar to those given to public school teachers working in tough areas.
In response, Commissioner Aranduh revealed that budget shortages are making it hard to provide essential items, like decent uniforms, for everyone in the prison system.
“We’ve managed to supply new uniforms across the country, but our current budget is not enough to meet the full demand. As for hardship allowances, they’re only granted in places where public service rules allow,” he explained.
The committee ended the session by promising to advocate for major changes in the prison service.
They pledged to push for better infrastructure, stronger oversight systems, and improved rehabilitation programs to ensure that the prison system can truly serve justice and help inmates reintegrate into society successfully.
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