President William Ruto has officially pardoned over 4,700 inmates across the country in a move aimed at reducing overcrowding in Kenya’s prisons. This was confirmed in a Gazette Notice dated Friday, May 23, which explained that the decision covered two main groups of prisoners.
The first group includes 2,135 petty offenders who had been sentenced to six months, while the second group is made up of 2,664 prisoners who had six months or less remaining on their current sentences.
The president acted based on recommendations made by the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee, which is led by Attorney General Dorcas Oduor. This was done in line with Article 133 of the Constitution of Kenya and section 23(1) of the Power of Mercy Act.
The notice explained that the president, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, remitted the unexpired portion of the sentences for both groups of offenders. The law allows the Advisory Committee on the Power of Mercy to receive and review petitions from convicted persons seeking mercy.
Each request is carefully examined by the committee, which considers different factors such as the seriousness of the crime, the behaviour of the prisoner while in custody, and whether releasing them would be in the public interest. The committee then presents its advice to the president, who can decide to pardon a convict either fully or on certain conditions.According to the Act, the president also has the authority to reduce a sentence, cancel a punishment, or delay it for some time depending on the circumstances of each case.
This mass release has drawn attention to the state of Kenya’s prison system, which is currently struggling to manage the high number of inmates. Experts and human rights groups have repeatedly raised alarm about congestion in prisons and the poor living conditions prisoners face.
The latest move by the president is expected to ease pressure on the system and has also renewed calls for alternative forms of punishment, especially for minor offenders. These could include community service, probation, or other ways of helping people reintegrate into society without having to serve time behind bars.
This is not the first time President Ruto has used the power of mercy. On April 28, a similar statement from the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, announced that the president had pardoned 56 Kenyans and one foreigner. In that batch, 31 people serving life sentences were granted conditional release, while 25 were released through remission.
