Harold Ayodo And Robert Nyasato
29 April 2008
Nairobi — ONE inmate died at Kibos Prison in Kisumu.
The ailing inmate, Stephen Baraza, 35, is said to have died as a result of neglect due to the prison warders' strike.
A second prisoner died at the Kodiaga Prison but it could not be established if the death was linked to the strike. Authorities at Kibos Prison told The Standard Baraza died at dawn as he was being taken to Kisumu District Hospital.
Sources at the New Nyanza Provincial General Hospital said the body of Cornel Asema, 35, was moved from Kodiaga Prison shortly after 9pm on Sunday.
Kibos Prison's Officer in Charge, Mr Zakayo Omusula, said seven inmates were admitted to the Kisumu hospital.
"One prisoner died and seven others have been admitted with malaria and tuberculosis," Omusula said.
Warders at Kibos Prison yesterday staged a sit-in at the main gate. They hang rifles and uniforms at the entrance of the facility.
They chanted and said they would not go back to work if their demands were not met. Kisumu Law Courts listened to some cases of remandees brought from Kodiaga.
The Standard learnt that the prison was not adversely affected by the strike.
In Kibos, Omusula said the warders who kept visitors at bay at the gates worked night shifts. "We are working in Kibos Prison and everything is going on normally," Omusula said.
In Homa Bay Prison, police kept vigil and even escorted inmates to courts.
But Nyanza PPO, Mr Anthony Kibuchi, denied claims that prison warders in the province had gone on strike.
Kibuchi said he had received reports from the Provincial Prisons Commander that warders were operating normally.
At the Kisii Prison, operations were normal as was the case at the town's law courts. But some of the warders told The Standard they would boycott work today if their grievances were not addressed. Although they escorted inmates to the courts, they threatened to release them today.
"Let them expect the worst from us. No amount of intimidation will cow us," said one warder who wished not to be named for fear of reprisals.
"We are living in squalid conditions while prisoners are enjoying better facilities. The difference between us and inmates is that we are free while they are confined," he added.
The facility, with a recommended capacity of 400, holds 1,600 inmates.
The officer in charge, Mr Julius Adero, said he had cautioned his officers against joining the strike.
"I had a session with my officers and told them to hold their horses because their problems were being looked into," he said.
He confirmed that a warder had been interdicted for misconduct.
"I interdicted him after he was found inciting colleagues to join the go-slow. We shall not condone any misconduct here," he said.
But the warders accused Adero of threatening and victimising them, yet they were only voicing their plight.
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