Nairobi — The Government has dispatched Sh10,000 cheques for each of the 1,623 prisons officers who assisted in quelling post-elections violence.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka on Thursday said provincial prisons commanders would receive the cheques on behalf of the officers.

The VP was speaking during a passing out parade for 1,499 prisons graduands at the Prisons Staff Training College, Ruiru.

Taskforce

Mr Musyoka said the Government had also approved the payment of a monthly Sh5,000 allowance to all prisons staff.

This, alongside the establishment of a taskforce to address the grievances of the prisons staff, was part of the remedial measures taken to address the problems faced by staff in the course of their duties.

"My office has already made an undertaking to ensure that officers' living standards, terms and conditions of service are continually reviewed in line with the economic realities of the day," the VP said.

Commitment

He reiterated the Government's commitment to improve the welfare of the staff besides transforming the institutions into correctional rather than punitive centres.

The Commissioner of Prisons, Mr Gilbert Omondi, said more housing units for the staff would be put up and other operations streamlined, with a view to making the service efficient and effective.