Mudavadi: Prison rehabilitation can drive jobs creation, economic growth

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has emphasized the importance of investing in rehabilitation programs for offenders, arguing that correctional services can play a significant role in employment creation, economic growth, and safer communities. He believes that equipping offenders with relevant skills and providing pathways to employment can help them reintegrate into society while supporting the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

Speaking at the closing ceremony of Correctional Services Week, Mudavadi stated that rehabilitation should focus on addressing the root causes of offending and preparing inmates to return as responsible citizens. He stressed the need for continuity between custodial and non-custodial interventions, emphasizing that rehabilitation should extend beyond prison walls to involve families and communities.

Mudavadi argued that correctional institutions should develop human capital and promote inclusive economic growth by providing offenders with relevant skills and opening pathways to employment and enterprise. He urged authorities to modernize correctional services and draw lessons from international best practices while ensuring reforms aligned with Kenya's constitutional values and social context.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary called for the adoption of the Correctional Services Week 2026 Communiqué and Resolutions, urging stakeholders to translate discussions into measurable improvements.