NAIROBI, Kenya – Ninety inmates were on Tuesday awarded certificates after completing an eight-month Sexual Offender Treatment Programme, as the State Department for Correctional Services intensifies efforts to curb rising sexual-related offences in the country.
The graduation ceremony took place at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, with virtual participation from Naivasha and Kisumu Maximum Security Prisons.
The programme comes amid concerning statistics indicating that sexual offences now account for about 31pc of the convicted prison population.
Correctional Services Principal Secretary, Dr. Salome Beacco, presiding over the event, underscored the urgent need to tackle the root causes of sexual crimes.
“Currently, the total convicted prison population stands at nearly 37,000 inmates. Of these, 11,108 are serving sentences for sexual offences. Defilement accounts for 78.3% of these cases, followed by rape at 10%, incest at 6.1%, and other sexual offences at 5.6%,” she noted.
Ninety inmates were on Tuesday conferred with certificates after successfully completing an eight-month Sexual Offender Treatment Programme, as the State Department for Correctional Services moves to address the rising cases of sexual-related offences in the country.The
Highlighting that the majority of offenders are young people, Dr. Beacco said the trend poses a serious threat to Kenya’s development agenda.
She added that addressing sexual offences is not solely a correctional services issue, but a justice sector challenge requiring coordinated institutional response.
“Justice extends beyond conviction. Rehabilitation, reintegration, and sustained collaboration are key to preventing future harm,” she said, congratulating the graduates on their achievement and emphasizing the responsibility that comes with it.
Seven Kenya Prisons Service officers also participated in the programme, which was supported by the Ustawi Trust Network.
Jane Kuria, CEO of Ustawi Trust, highlighted that while justice is essential, creating space for offender transformation is equally critical to prevent future offences.
Acting Probation and Aftercare Secretary Shadrack Kavutai stressed the importance of rehabilitation, reformation, and successful reintegration, while Director of Welfare, Sports, and Rehabilitation Susan Majere said the programme reflects the Kenya Prisons Service’s commitment to innovative and transformative rehabilitation.
The training covered 11 comprehensive modules, including the Sexual Offences Act, cognitive restructuring, substance use, managing deviant sexual arousal, victim empathy, relapse prevention, emotional management, sexuality, relationships, and interpersonal skills.
