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Gov’t initiates relocation of prison land for expansion of Kitale town

The State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni paid a courtesy call to Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and County Commissioner (CC) Mathias Rioba.

The officials deliberated over plans of relocating the Kitale GK Medium Prison following President William Ruto’s directives on January 21, 2023.

The President issued the directive while in Kitale during ordination of new Bishop for Kitale Catholic diocese.

The move is aimed at creating space for expansion of Kitale town. The land was designated as prison land through legal notice no. 751 of 1963 and the said prison was established in 1943 through gazette notice no.145.

Available records at Prison Department indicates the original Prison land to be 64.35ha (159.01 acres).

However, records further indicate the land was later subdivided and allocated to private individuals, with only 5ha (12.35acres) remaining for the prison facility and 5ha was spared for Kitale Prison Primary School through PDP NO. KTL.10.96.93 approved no.393.

The objective of the meeting was to provide guidelines that would enable the devolved unit initiate the process for acquiring the prison land for the purpose of expanding Kitale town.

The meeting agreed that the county government shall appoint a representative who will be part of the land relocation steering and technical committee while other members will be drawn from Housing and Public Works departments.

“It should not appear that the County government is targeting prison land. We just want to put the land into a better use for our people,” explained Governor Natembeya when he addressed the press.

The PS later proceeded on a familiarization tour of the Kitale GK Medium Prisons and the Main GK Grassland Prison.

In her company was the Commissioner General of Prisons Brig. (Rtd) John K. Warioba, EBS, the CC Rioba, and County Prison Commissioner Mr Emmanuel Odhiambo among others.

Also present was the County Secretary Mrs Truphosa Amere and the CEC land Janerose Mutama.

By Maurice Aluda

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