Setting the pace for aligning departmental priorities

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has emphasized the need for all departments within the Ministry of Interior to align their priorities with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s development agenda early in the year.

Murkomen made the statement following a high-level strategic meeting held with the officers from the State Department for Correctional Services. This meeting was called in order to assess the department's priorities for the year and to articulate strategies that would ensure projects geared toward the implementation of government programmes are executed effectively.

“The onset of the year provides for a refocus so that every department is able to work together towards the realization of the Kenya Kwanza agenda,” said Murkomen.

Presidential Directives and Areas of Key Development

The Cabinet Secretary underlined that a special emphasis was placed on the implementation of Presidential Directives, namely releasing some prison lands situated in selected towns towards the Affordable Housing Programme. He stated that this would help promote access to decent and affordable housing while also ensuring public land is put to optimal use.

The discussions, besides others, also covered the need to quickly make use of underutilized prison land in order to boost food production. Murkomen said this will enhance food security and lower the cost of feeding inmates. Also discussed among ways to generate more revenue and self-sustainability are ways of enhancing the commercialisation of prisons industries.

Welfare and Service Delivery

Murkomen added to the discussion the need to construct institutional housing for correctional services officers and to complete stalled and ongoing projects across the country.

“This is about improving service delivery, enhancing the welfare of our officers, and making sure correctional services play their rightful place in our national development.”

The meeting was also graced by Dr. Salome Beacco, Principal Secretary for Correctional Services, Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh, and a host of other senior officials from the department.

The cabinet secretary reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working efficiently and with results-focused leadership, adding that progress on all agreed priorities would be monitored throughout the year.