Kenneth Ogosia
18 June 2008
Nairobi — The country's prisoners could soon get health insurance, if a plan by the Ministry of Home Affair is put in place.
According to the five-year Sh104 billion strategic plan for 2008 to 2012, the inmates could benefit from a comprehensive health insurance cover.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Commissioner of Prisons Gilbert Omondi, sample food served to inmates at Shimo la Tewa Prison in Mombasa on a recent visit. Photos/FILE
Special wards for sick prisoners will also be built alongside staff houses, modern cooking systems, construction of modern administrative offices, boreholes, access roads, security surveillance and rehabilitation centres will be established.
Other key highlights of the document published in May, this year include government policy framework and reforms, to ensure that all young offenders get free primary education; implementation of policies on free secondary education, HIV and Aids and public service reform programmes.
The budgetary requirement to reform the prisons and improve services is estimated at Sh104.7 billion, because the previous funding by the Government falls below the expectations of the department's maximum target of Sh26.1 million.
The Government has been giving Sh4.8 million to Sh6.1 million between 2005 and 2008.
A website for the department, aimed at helping in publicity and image development; a departmental media and communication strategy; review of service charters and making the department public-friendly will cost Sh 100 million.
In the 26-point action plan obtained by the Nation from the Vice President's office, the Government will develop a comprehensive health insurance cover for staff and inmates, and give the prisoners primary and specialised medical services.
It will also establish a health referral centre for both prisoners and staff and recruit departmentally-controlled health workers.
Currently, the Ministry of Health sends health personnel to prison dispensaries.
The report, compiled after the strike by prison warders in April to demand a pay raise, risk allowance, and Sh10,000 stipend for work during the post-election violence early this year, could herald a new chapter in the disgraced department.
Sh250 million is expected to go towards rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders by developing evidence based programmes, addressing issues of victims of crime, improving resettlement.
The generation of social information to courts and penal institutions will cost Sh200 million.
High risk offenders
Supervision of offenders to forestall absconding and enhance implementation of the Community Service Order, including surveillance for high risk offenders, is projected to cost Sh30 million.
Crime prevention by implementing youth justice schemes to engage students and teachers and parents on delinquency prevention, creating drug and substance misuse prevention programmes in probation institutions and developing modern methods of crime prevention will cost Sh30 million.
Research, information management and administrations to lift the department to acceptable international standards will cost Sh 390 million.
The Government will employ professionals, develop comprehensive vocational training curriculum, revive the parole system, review earning schemes and provide prisoners with sufficient clothing, beddings and toiletries.
The Government is also expected to undertake penal reforms and the prisons department will have an independent legal unit.
It will develop a scheme of service for welfare and spiritual officers, and hire qualified staff.
To fight corruption in the ministry and affiliate departments, the integrity assurance office will be strengthened and prison staff educated on dangers of the vice.
On HIV and Aids, the ministry will roll out Aids Control Units to cover the entire prisons service, and build capacity on the management of the pandemic.
Counselling and testing services in all prisons will be established, 20 health units will offer treatment for tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections will be established.
A similar number of Voluntary Counselling Testing centres will be set up.
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