President Willam Ruto has announced that the Kenya Prison Service will begin leasing its land.
Speaking during the launch of the National Police Service and State Department of Correctional Service strategic plans (2023-2027), on Friday December 13, Ruto said that the government must commercialize land to make it useful to government agencies.
He mentioned that the government plans to involve private investors in order to commercialize the identified pieces of land to maximize the potential of these lands.
“The Prison service will be begin leasing their land. We have so much land in the hands of government,” said Ruto.
“We have seen what commercialization of these lands can do and there is every reason why we must work with the private sector to commercialize the pieces of land that we have.”
The head of state added that the leasing will help in to produce food and other products so that the government can these assets (land) mush more useful.
At the same time, the Head of state mentioned that to further improve transport and service provisions, the State Department of Correctional Service will also be include in the vehicle leasing program.
This, Ruto said, will improve the efficiency of transport for both officers and prisoners.
President Ruto also emphasized that the Maraga taskforce extends to the Prison Service where the construction of 28,00o houses will be agreed upon.
Meanwhile, Ruto expressed the government’s commitment to provide additional vehicles to ease police operations. According to Ruto, the government is currently in the process of procuring 1,000 additional vehicles.
He explained that by early next year, the government would distribute the first 1,000 vehicles to various police stations across the country, with the remaining 2,000 to be provided later in the year.
To address the housing challenges facing police officers, President Ruto revealed that the government was on the verge of completing 17,000 housing units, which would be handed over to police officers.
“We intend to ensure that many of our police officers, who discharge the very sensitive responsibility of protecting all of us, work in conditions that help them to perform their duties better,” Ruto reaffirmed.
Elsewhere, the president also announced plans to roll out new police uniforms in the coming weeks. This is part of the numerous changes Ruto promised to the over 100,000 police officers.
President Ruto explained that the government’s decision to introduce the new police uniforms was aimed at inspiring the officers in their work.
“As I said before, we will engage the policemen and women so that we can have an appropriate uniform. I know that has been agreed upon, and what is awaiting is the rollout,” Ruto said.
“We will make sure that we give our policemen and women uniforms that inspire them to work and to go forward, that is something that we are going to do.”
