A Judiciary report highlights a worrying rise in female recidivism, with discharged female convicts returning to crime at significantly higher rates than their male counterparts. The National Council on Administration of Justice report reveals that while only 2% of male ex-convicts relapsed into criminal activities, the rate for women surged to 11%.
Experts attribute this to societal rejection and stigma faced by discharged women, which limits their reintegration options and pushes them back into crime. The report also notes that, despite women comprising only 5% of the prison population, their involvement in criminal activities has risen, with a 25% increase in convicted female offenders recorded between 2017 and 2018.
In 2023, Kenya’s prison population was predominantly male, with 71,243 men and 8,828 women incarcerated. Short sentences of less than a month were common, affecting 14,424 men and 1,916 women. Notably, the number of individuals sentenced to death rose by 49%, from 94 in 2022 to 140 in 2023.
Rehabilitation experts point to inadequate aftercare programs and societal hostility as key barriers to reintegration. Cases like those of ex-convicts Brian Oduor and Daniel Ngutire, who faced violent deaths after their release, highlight the dangers of societal rejection and the urgent need for improved correctional mechanisms.
Analysts urge reforms in rehabilitation services, the Judiciary, and correctional facilities to better prepare offenders for life after prison and address the underlying challenges driving recidivism, particularly among women.
