The government will enroll all inmates in Kenya’s correctional facilities into the Social Health Authority (SHA) by December, in a move aimed at easing overcrowding pressures and tackling rising disease outbreaks in prisons.
Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco made the announcement during the 4th edition of the Jamii Imara Mashinani initiative in Meru, noting that health challenges in prisons have reached alarming levels.
“Almost 40 per cent of the problems I have are due to sexual offences; rape, sodomy, gender-based violence,” she said, revealing that sexual offenders make up nearly 40 per cent of the prison population. In Meru alone, close to 1,000 such convicts are held, worsening congestion and spreading disease.
Beacco said the high concentration of inmates has fueled the spread of HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea, adding that limited medical resources are straining correctional facilities.
“The highest prevalence of HIV incidences is here in Meru. I don’t have money for medicines,” she warned, stressing that the health crisis in prisons cannot be ignored.
The PS said enrolling all inmates under SHA will ensure continuous access to treatment, improve disease management, and promote equity in healthcare delivery within the prison system.
She also called for stronger community-level interventions to address gender-based violence, saying prevention would reduce the number of offenders ending up in prison while also easing the health burden.
Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni, who attended the Meru event, urged Kenyans to register for SHA, emphasizing the government’s commitment to expanding access to healthcare. She highlighted early cancer screening as a priority, promising closer collaboration with county governments to make such services available at community level.
Muthoni also raised concern over the rising cases of drug and substance abuse among young people, including the use of electronic devices laced with narcotics.
Meru leaders, led by Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood, backed the government’s plans, saying tackling health risks in prisons and addressing substance abuse among youth are critical for safeguarding Kenya’s future.
The nationwide rollout of SHA in prisons is expected to ease the medical burden in correctional facilities while guaranteeing inmates access to essential health services.
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