Saboti Constituency Member of Parliament, Caleb Amisi has called for reforms in Kenyan correctional facilities to ensure they are decongested.
Speaking on Thursday December 25, 2025 when he took Christmas donations to the Kitale Annex, Women and Main Prisons in Trans Nzoia County, Amisi lamented that the government was spending a lot of money taking care of prisoners thrown into jail after committing minor offences.
The second-term legislator elected through the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket said Kenyan correctional facilities are holding young and energetic people who can be better utilized in building the economy of the country.
“Here in Kitale (Annex, Women and Main) Prisons, I am told there are over 3,000 inmates. This is a very big number and that is why I am proposing that we need serious reforms in our prisons so that we can release these inmates to go and be part of the people building our nation,” Amisi stated.
Why Amisi wants inmates employed by government
The vocal lawmaker revealed that he is drafting a bill to be tabled on the floor of the National Assembly that seeks to compel both the National and County governments to employ all ex-prisoners with various technical skills.
“In my bill, it should be mandatory that once a prisoner completes his/her jail term and has acquired any technical skill, he/she should be employed by the government so that we can get value for the money invested in training them,” he added.
He also took a swipe at other political leaders in Trans Nzoia for neglecting the prisoners.
The MP handed over both food and non-food items to the three correctional facilities and promised to build classrooms at the Kitale Main Prison so that students can get a conducive learning environment.
“I also brought you several balls. Organize a tournament amongst yourself and once the tournament is finished, I will come with my team to award the winners,” said the MP.
