|
Kenya will uphold the rights of jailed Somali pirates, in
accordance with the local and international law,
Vice-President [VP] Kalonzo Musyoka has said.
He said the piracy was a delicate matter and needed to be
handled in accordance with local and international laws.
"Piracy is not only a Kenyan problem but an international
challenge that calls for collaborative efforts by both UN
and other international players to eliminate," said the VP.
Kalonzo appealed to the international community to renew its
commitment to the restoration of peace in Somalia.
Pirates' grouse
He was speaking at Shimo la Tewa Prison, Mombasa, during a
tour of the facility where he also received and officially
opened new staff quarters.
The 20 units of the Phase I Housing Scheme in which 300
modern houses will be constructed for various prisons at
cost of 85m shillings [1.1m dollars].
During the tour, the VP met some of the suspected pirates
who complained of delay in hearing of their cases.
The VP said 10 of the suspects have been tried and
convicted, and are serving their sentences in various
institutions.
Kalonzo whose docket oversees the penal institutions said
the government was enacting the necessary legal instruments
to address international crimes like piracy.
The VP reiterated the government's commitment to pursue
reforms in the penal institutions.
He said housing and better remuneration were some of the
reforms in the institutions.
"We intend to implement all the recommendations of the
Madoka Taskforce and to motivate our officers and improve
their welfare and that of inmates," he said.
The VP expressed hope that Treasury would increase the
budgetary allocation to facilitate reforms.
The Commissioner of Prisons, Isaiah Osugo, commended the
housing reforms.
Several government officials including Home Affairs PS
[Permanent Secretary] Ludeki Chweya, Coast PC [Provincial
Commissioner] Ernest Munyi, Coast Prisons Commander James
K'Odieny, Public Works PS Gideon Mulyungi and Shimo la Tewa
Prisons Commander Wanini Kereri, accompanied the VP.
|
