•Kindiki assured the MPs that a roadmap and matrix was being worked on to streamline career progression and succession management at the service.
•The CS refuted claims that there was discrimination in employment at the KPS.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Cabinet Secretary for the Interior and National Administration on Thursday conceded to existing imbalances in ethnic composition at the Kenya Prisons Service.
However, he maintained that the matter would be looked into soon.
Appearing before the the National Assembly Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities the CS, however, refuted claims that there was discrimination in employment at the KPS.
"Kenya Prisons Service staff represent the diversity of the people of Kenya, and there is no discrimination in employment," Kindiki noted.
The CS also insisted that there was no ethnic community that represented more than one-third of the uniformed staff population at Prisons.
Kindiki assured the MPs that a roadmap and matrix were being worked on to streamline career progression and succession management at the service.
He noted that many officers are retiring at the constable level.
Giving data, the CS noted that the current number of uniformed officers at Kenya Prison Service is 31, 227 which comprises 23,878 male officers and 7,349 female officers.
Inspector to Chief inspector of prisons is 1,673 while Superintendent of prisons to Commissioner General of Prisons are 599
In addition, the CS said that the government will spend Sh1 billion to modernise prison workshops to promote industrialisation.
While affirming the government’s commitment to the prison reforms agenda, Kindiki pointed out that the move will help the country’s prison industry match with the modern workshops.
The move is aimed at improving the standards of the prison industry and enhancing the production of quality products.
Earlier, Kindiki had said that the government was committed to improving the welfare of prisoners.
He said that the future of the country’s disciplined forces, including the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, the National Intelligence Service and even the Kenya Defence Forces lies in “a healthy mix of recruits joining through the regular recruitment and those joining as officer cadets.”
The Interior boss noted that the government takes seriously the reforms in prisons and other correctional facilities.
Kindiki expressed optimism that the implementation of the recommendations from the Presidential Taskforce on reforms of the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service and the National Youth Service led by former Chief Justice David Maraga will play a critical role in improving the capacity of the country’s security agencies.
The taskforce appointed by President William Ruto in December last year seeks to seal existing gaps within the operations of the police service and better the working conditions of security personnel.
The Maraga-led task force is also tasked with reviewing and recommending improvement of matters relating to the welfare of officers in all cadres of the NPS and KPS and all other matters incidental to the optimal service delivery of the service.