Members of Parliament (MPs) have raised concerns over the increasing trend of scams orchestrated by prisoners.
During a session with officials from the Kenya Prisons Service, led by Commissioner General Patrick Aranduh on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, lawmakers sitting in the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) voiced their worries, stating that the country had recorded an upsurge of fraudulent activities engineered behind bars.
The discussion was triggered after Tiaty MP William Kamket questioned Patrick Aranduh on the steps taken to address the trend posing a danger to Kenyans.
“Scamming is rampant, and it’s eroding public trust. What concrete steps are being taken to tackle this?” Kamket posed.
Prison boss response
In a statement shared by the Parliament of Kenya on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Aranduh acknowledged the issue but failed to give a detailed approach taken to address the crime.
However, MPs termed Aranduh’s response shallow and thus called on the Kenya Prisons Service to adopt technology-based monitoring, which they argued would play a key role in combating fraud.
Exploitation of prisoners
During the session, the lawmakers also questioned the legal framework governing inmate labour. Runyenjes MP Eric Karemba challenged Aranduh to clarify before the committee whether prisoners were being exploited under the guise of rehabilitation.
“Prisoners can be a productive asset. In China, they contribute to economic growth while gaining valuable skills. What’s your policy framework?” Nambale MP Geoffrey Mulanya asked.
On the other hand, Embakasi Central MP Mejja Donk pushed for a forensic audit of the Appropriations-in-Aid (AiA) account, raising red flags over transparency in how prison-generated income is handled.
In his response, the prison’s boss maintained that inmate labour was not commercial but rather rehabilitative.
“We have no idle land; it’s all engaged. Inmates work as part of rehabilitation, not for production,” he asserted, noting that a proposed Correctional Services Bill aimed at regulating inmate labour was still under review.
The issue of reforms, dressing and housing also dominated the session, where the Deputy Commissioner General assured the committee that various leaders were keen to address ongoing reforms, including partnerships for inmate education, vocational training, and gradual implementation of the Moody Awori recommendations.
“Before we can transform prisons, we must first address the underlying causes of criminal behaviour. Rehabilitation must begin with readiness.”
