New Commissioner General of Prisons sworn-in

By Peter Ochieng

The new Commissioner General of Prisons has been sworn-in.

Patrick Mwiti Arandu took the oath of office on Wednesday morning, in a ceremony witnessed by among others, President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.

He takes over from Brigadier John Warioba, who is proceeding on terminal leave pending the end of his tenure of office. Warioba was appointed by retired President, Uhuru Kenyatta in 2021. 

President Ruto expressed confidence that commissioner Arandu will successfully carry out his mandate, guaranteeing proper management of correctional services in the country.

“My congratulations to you Commissioner General Mwiti for this very well-deserved appointment as the commissioner general in a career that has seen you put many years of your career behind the prison service. The prison service is looking forward to your leadership,” said Ruto.

“We are transforming our correctional practices from punishment to rehabilitation so as to empower prisoners and prepare them for productive participation in the running of our country.”

Unlike his predecessor who has a background in the army, Arandu is a career officer who has risen through the ranks in the prisons department.

He said he plans to modernise prison industries and farm technology, with the dual goals of self-sufficiency and contributing to the country’s food security.

In his first 100 days, Arandu said he aims to implement the recommendations of the Maraga Report and revisit policies and regulations, specifically Cap 90 and 92 of the Kenyan Constitution, to better support the criminal justice system.

The Kenya prison service is a key player in the criminal justice system. The department is charged with rehabilitation and reformation of offenders’ administration of justice and containing offenders in safe and humane custody.

It also recruits and trains qualified staff, provides care for children aged four (4) years and below who accompany their mothers to prison, and trains young offenders in Borstal Institutions and Youth Corrective Training Centers.