Principal Secretary for Correctional Services Dr. Salome Muhia Beacco (with spectacles) with some of the beds donated by Kaaga Girls High School at the Meru GK Prison on July 31, 2026. Photo by Dennis Dibondo. 
By Dennis Dibondo
Principal Secretary for Correctional Services, Dr. Salome Muhia Beacco, has revealed that Kenya's correctional facilities are grappling with severe overcrowding, with the country currently holding approximately 64,000 inmates, a situation that has strained available accommodation and resulted in an acute shortage of beds and bedding.
Speaking at Meru GK Prison on Thursday, Dr. Beacco said the high number of inmates—particularly male prisoners—has placed immense pressure on prison infrastructure, prompting the government to accelerate reforms aimed at improving living conditions in correctional institutions.
She said the reforms are focused on making prisons more humane by expanding accommodation facilities, providing quality beds and bedding, upgrading sanitation infrastructure, and creating a dignified environment for both inmates and prison officers.
The PS was speaking during a ceremony where Kaaga Girls High School donated 180 beds, 180 mattresses, and 180 blankets to Meru GK Prison, describing the contribution as historic.
According to Dr. Beacco, it is the first time such a significant donation has been made to the facility since it was established in 1911.
"Since 1911, male prisoners have had no bedding. Today you have wiped away the tears of 180 male prisoners in this institution," she said.
“Do not think that what you have done is insignificant. We applaud you for donating 180 beds, 180 mattresses, and 180 blankets. Every act of kindness matters, and today the students have restored dignity to the inmates through this generous donation.”
Dr. Beacco said the government launched the triple-decker bed project last year to maximize limited prison space, adding that new development projects are being rolled out annually to improve correctional facilities across the country.
However, she expressed concern over the steadily increasing prison population.
"We have about 64,000 inmates and approximately 61,000 probation and aftercare clients. These are very large numbers," she said.
The PS reaffirmed the government's commitment to modernizing prisons by undertaking at least one major development project every year, with the aim of transforming correctional institutions into facilities that uphold dignity and rehabilitation.
She also pledged to improve housing for prison officers, saying ongoing infrastructure projects are intended to restore dignity to both inmates and correctional staff.
"We shall ensure every prison officer has decent housing. All the ongoing projects are meant to restore dignity to both inmates and prison officers while on duty," she said.
Dr. Beacco called on all stakeholders to work together in supporting reforms within the correctional sector to enhance service delivery and national development.
She further appealed to Kenyans to re-elect President William Ruto's administration in the 2027 General Election, saying continuity would enable the government to complete the reforms already underway.
> "There is still a lot of work to be done, and it can only be accomplished if we are given another opportunity. Meaningful transformation takes between five and ten years. That is why strategic plans are designed within those timelines," she said.
“We humbly ask Kenyans to give us another chance so that we can modernize our correctional facilities and restore dignity to everyone. Our goal is to build a correctional system comparable to that of Singapore.”
Kaaga Girls Senior School Chief Principal Eunice Maeke said the donation followed a directive from the Ministry of Education requiring schools to phase out wooden beds from dormitories as part of enhanced fire safety measures.
Instead of disposing of the beds, the school opted to donate them to Meru GK Prison as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
"We chose to donate the beds rather than discard them. This initiative reflects our commitment to serving the community," Maeke said.
She added that the school is dedicated to nurturing compassionate and socially responsible students, noting that education should produce not only academically successful learners but also citizens who care for the welfare of others.
Kenya Prisons Service Director of Enterprise Charles Mutembei welcomed the donation, saying it demonstrates the critical role partnerships between government institutions and the wider community can play in improving the country's correctional services.
