Kenya to swap prisoners under new law

Politics and policy

President Kenyatta when he signed the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill. Mr Kenyatta Thursday signed into law the Transfer of Prisoners Act. FILE PHOTO |  PSCU

By RAWLINGS OTINI

In Summary

• “The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the transfer of prisoners between Kenya and countries which it has entered into agreements with,” State House said in a statement.
• The Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines Act provides for the prohibition of use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and their destruction in accordance with the Ottawa convention, and for connected purposes.
• The Act ensures that the State is bound to take action on any person who violates the law on the same and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.

Kenyans convicted of criminal offences abroad will now be able to serve their prison sentences back home thanks to a new law.

President Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday signed into law the Transfer of Prisoners Act aimed at facilitating arrangements for the transfer of persons serving sentences of imprisonment for criminal offences committed in Kenya or countries outside Kenya.

“The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the transfer of prisoners between Kenya and countries which it has entered into agreements with,” State House said in a statement.

The arrangement can be helpful especially if the home country feels the sentence was unfair.

For instance Al Jazeera’s Australian journalist Peter Greste was deported after President Fatah Al Sisi announced a similar law ostensibly to protect Egypt’s international image.

READ: Kenyans in foreign jail may serve terms at home

Mr Kenyatta Thursday at State House Nairobi assented to three key bills, two of which are aimed at enhancing Kenya’s security cooperation with other countries.

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The President signed the Transfer of Prisoners Act 2015, the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines Act 2015 and the Fertilizers and Animal Foodstuffs (Amendment) Act 2015.

The Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines Act provides for the prohibition of use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and their destruction in accordance with the Ottawa convention, and for connected purposes.

The Act ensures that the State is bound to take action on any person who violates the law on the same and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.

The Fertilizers and Animal Foodstuffs Amendment Act is aimed at establishing a board to regulate the fertilizers and animal foodstuffs industry in Kenya.

It will also regulate the production, manufacture, packaging, importation and marketing of fertilizers and animal foodstuffs.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Speaker of National Assembly Justin Muturi, Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua, Solicitor General Njee Muturi and Clerk to the National Assembly Justin Bundi