President William Ruto has granted pardons and clemency to 57 individuals serving custodial sentences in various prisons across Kenya.
In a notification from Head of Public Service Felix Koskey, it was announced that those pardoned on Monday include 56 Kenyan citizens and one foreign national. Koskey stated that the President acted on the recommendations of the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee (POMAC) in exercising the prerogative of power of mercy conferred upon the Head of State and Government by the Constitution.
“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,” said Koskey.
He noted that Conditional Release was granted to thirty-one petitioners serving life sentences, while Conditional Release and Repatriation was granted to the foreign national, a citizen of an East African Community Partner State, who was also 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,” Koskey added.
Additionally, the Head of Public Service confirmed that President Ruto extended General Amnesty to all petty offenders sentenced to six months or less, as well as to offenders serving sentences longer than six months whose remaining terms are now six months or less.
“To strengthen the arc of justice, the Head of State and Government 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,” Koskey stated in the notification.
