Kenya

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CountryKenya
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government
Prison administration
Kenya Prisons Service
Contact address
Bishop Road Upperhill, Next to NSSF Building, P. O. Box 30175 -00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone
+254 20 2722902
Fax
+254 2 727 329 or +254 2 714 7
Website
http://www.prisons.go.ke
Email
cgp@prisons.go.ke
Head of prison administration (and title)
Patrick Mwiti Arandu
Commissioner General of Prisons
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
Circa
60 000
at December 2023 (via U.S. State Department human rights report)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
Circa
103
based on an estimated national population of 58.12 million at December 2023 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
41.0%
(5.12.2022)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.1%
(21.3.2022)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.6%
(21.3.2022 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
0.6%
(31.12.2013)
Number of establishments / institutions
134
(21.3.2022)
Official capacity of prison system
34 000
(December.2023)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
Circa
176.5%
(December.2023)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 40,010 129
2002 35,157 108
2004 52,000 150
2006 47,036 129
2008 46,150 119
2010 48,153 118
2012 44,522 103
2014 55,270 123
2016 50,900 108
2018 53,765 108
2020 42,596 81
2000 40,010 129
2002 35,157 108
2004 52,000 150
2006 47,036 129
2008 46,150 119
2010 48,153 118
2012 44,522 103
2014 55,270 123
2016 50,900 108
2018 53,765 108
2020 42,596 81

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Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                 KENYA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2001
2005
2010
2015
2019

14,523
21,702
16,391
23,745
23,552

41.1%
48.7%
34.0%
43.5%
44.1%

45
61
40
52
46 

2022

24,143

41.0%

44

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                  KENYA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2001
2006
2011
2015
2019

1,486
2,000
2,672
3,982
3,577

4.2%
4.2%
5.3%
7.3%
6.7%

4.6
5.5
6.3
8.6
7.0

2022

2,683

5.1%

4.9

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate