Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has confirmed that Kenya is embracing humane justice reforms that prioritize community supervision over incarceration for certain offenders.
Speaking at the opening of a Pan-African conference in Nairobi on Tuesday, he highlighted probation, restorative justice, and international partnerships aimed at reducing repeat offenses while supporting offender reintegration.
“We have made significant strides in embracing progressive and humane approaches to justice,” Murkomen said on Tuesday, noting that more offenders are now supervised within communities rather than being imprisoned.
“A notable proportion of offenders are managed through community supervision rather than incarceration, enhancing accountability, restoring communities, and supporting lasting reintegration,” he added. The shift, he explained, benefits both individuals and society by focusing on rehabilitation and structured reintegration.
Kenya’s Probation and Aftercare Service is at the center of these reforms, equipping offenders with practical skills, promoting employment opportunities, strengthening family bonds, and restoring dignity.
“Through our Probation and Aftercare Service, we work to equip offenders with practical skills, promote employment opportunities, strengthen family bonds, and restore dignity,” Murkomen said.
The strategy is designed to prevent reoffending while maintaining public safety. “In doing so, we reduce recidivism, rebuild lives, and return productive capital to our communities without compromising public safety,” he stated.
The Nairobi conference brought together correctional leaders and justice officials from across Africa, as well as international partners. Delegates included UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, Youth Justice and International Jake Richards, UNODC East Africa Representative Ali El-Berrir, Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco, Commissioner General of Prisons Patrick Aranduh, and Acting Secretary for Probation and Aftercare Services Shadrack Kavutai, alongside heads of correctional services from across the continent.
Murkomen emphasized that Kenya would continue building partnerships at both continental and global levels to strengthen probation systems.
“We will continue to leverage our strategic partnerships on the continent and across the globe to improve our probation systems, sharing replicable best practices on parole, restorative justice, and community-based alternatives to prison,” he said.
Community corrections, including probation and parole, are increasingly recognized worldwide as cost-effective and socially sustainable alternatives for non-violent offenders. By emphasizing practical skills, employment opportunities, and family reintegration, Kenya aims to reduce repeat offending while enabling former offenders to contribute positively to society.
The Interior CS framed the reforms as part of a broader justice transformation agenda that prioritizes dignity, accountability, and long-term social stability.
His remarks come amid growing global discussions on prison overcrowding and the effectiveness of traditional incarceration in reducing crime.
The Pan-African conference is expected to provide a platform for sharing experiences and exploring scalable models of community corrections across African justice systems. Murkomen’s address signaled Kenya’s intention to be a regional leader in probation reform and restorative justice practices while maintaining a strong commitment to public safety.
