Following the emergence of COVID-19 epidemic in 2019, preventive protocols were put in place by W.H.O to curb the spread, protocols that have been observed world over ever since. Government facilities, homes and the private sector were directed to employ certain measures to help curb the spread of the pandemic which was first recorded in Wuhan, China.
In a letter received by ikuweikuwe.com from an anonymous Bungoma Prison remandee it’s obvious that the government does not implement its own directives at the facility, the courts are not helping either
The letter reads;
Postponed court proceedings;
Prison remand inmates have for this period suffered since the protocols brought with them difficult times especially after Courts proceedings were interrupted courtesy locked downs. Back at the Prison, measures were also put in place to curb the spread which included no visitation. As a result, inmates have been suffering in silence with no one ready to listen and therefore do something about their predicament. Failure to appear in court has literally delayed justice for them leading to back logs of case files at their custodian desks- judges/magistrates.
Unbailed/unbonded cases have just but contributed immensely to serious congestions in remand homes thus defeating the very Covid-19 directives i.e. keeping Social distance. Congestion has led to rapid spread of illnesses i.e. Skin diseases, scabies, pneumatic conditions like T.B. e.t.c
Lack of essentials;
Prisoners initially depended much on friends and relatives brought them essentials such as soap, tissue papers, toothpaste, Items that the government does not provide. There is no adequate supply of soap in prisons making the hand-washing measure as a way of fighting Covid-19 a circus since they do not use soaps.
With severe water shortage in Prisons, inmates are often forced to wash the one mask they were provided in March 2020 every night without soap.
Remandee’s plea;
This is horrible! with these shortcomings prisoners/ remandees are now pleading with the Judiciary to speed up trials against them as stipulated in Article (50) of the constitution of Kenya – Justice delayed is Justice denied. This will help the Nation in fighting against injustice and COVID 19 in general.
SOMEONE PLEASE HELP …
~ Remand inmates Bungoma G.K. Prison – 20/03/2021 ~
#iKUWEiKUWE was unable to reach the Prison administration for comment
