President William Ruto has granted pardon to 57 convicts sering custodial jail terms in Kenya, including 56 Kenyans and one foreigner.
In a statement on Monday, April 28, 2025, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei revealed that Ruto had also extended general amnesty to all petty offenders sentenced to six months or less and offenders serving sentences longer than six months, whose remaining terms are now six months or less.
“It is notified that His Excellency the President, in accordance with the recommendations of the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee (POMAC), has exercised the prerogative of power of mercy conferred upon the Head of State and Government under Article 133 of the Constitution,” Koskei stated.
“In exercising this presidential authority that breathes life into the principles of rehabilitation and restorative justice, His Excellency the President has extended the hand of clemency to fifty-six Kenyan citizens and one foreign national, all of whom were serving long jail-term sentences in various prisons in our country.”
Conditional release was granted to 31 petitioners serving life sentences and conditional release and repatriation was granted to one foreign national (a citizen of an East African Community (EAC) partner state) who was serving a life sentence.
Remission and release was granted to twenty-five individuals allowing for their discharge, upon remission of the unexpired portion of their custodial sentences.
“Additionally, the Head of State and Government has extended General Amnesty to all petty offenders sentenced to six months or less and offenders serving sentences longer than six months, whose remaining terms are now six months or less,” Koskei added.
Koskei says to strengthen the arc of justice, Ruto has urged all stakeholders within the criminal justice system to explore ways in which the principles of reconciliation, restoration, rehabilitation, and reintegration into the community can be more effectively expressed and implemented.
Francis Muli
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