The possibility of a security lapse at Kamiti maximum prison in increasing,
according to a report in The Standard newspaper.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, security officers said prison watchtowers
are not being manned because the towers’ foundations are crumbling.
Prison wardens also fear for their safety because the towers’ walls,
floors and ceilings are filled with cracks and on the verge of collapsing.
The prison houses over 2,000 inmates.
The seven towers are supposed to be manned by heavily armed officers to
prevent security breaches.
The towers were built in 2012 and cost taxpayers millions of
shillings. Also in question is a multi-million biogas project at the prison carried
out in the same period, which was finalized and commissioned but still not
working.
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| Inmates (seen above) inside Kenya's Kamiti maximum security prison |
The cracked towers were allegedly built without heavy metal pillars
are said to have cost Sh40 million and a similar amount was spent on the biogas
project.
"We are fearing to keep man on the towers for personal security
reasons since they seem like they will fall down any time. We also fear being
attacked by the prisoners or criminals like the Al Shabaab, who might take
advantage of the security lapse. Even a single grenade can bring a tower down
since they are structurally very weak," said an unnamed officer.
The Standard has established that on April 13, officials from public
works visited the facility to confirm whether the towers were constructed in
accordance with procedures and specifications.
"We are waiting for the
outcome from the public works officials before deciding on the way
forward," Kamiti Prison Officer-In-Charge Henry Kisingu said.