Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called for the accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and other modern technologies to transform Kenya’s correctional services, improve efficiency and strengthen the rehabilitation of inmates.
Prof. Kindiki said emerging technologies offered opportunities to improve operational planning, identify gaps in service delivery and ensure the effective use of limited resources in correctional institutions.
He said digital innovation should go hand in hand with efforts to equip inmates with skills that would enable them to become productive members of society after completing their sentences.
“Artificial intelligence, data analytics, secure digital communication and other emerging technologies offer significant opportunities to improve operational planning, identify service delivery gaps, support rehabilitation programmes and deploy limited resources more effectively,” he said.
The Deputy President spoke on Tuesday 13 October 2026 in Nairobi when he officially opened the fourth Correctional Service Week, calling on the State Department for Correctional Services to embrace innovation while safeguarding the rights and dignity of people under its supervision.
He cautioned that the adoption of new technologies must be guided by responsible practices that protect personal information and prevent discrimination.
“These technologies must be adopted responsibly. Innovation within correctional institutions must uphold human dignity, protect personal information, guard against discrimination and preserve the rights and welfare of people under correctional supervision,” Kindiki said.
He urged the department to align its digital transformation programmes with national policies, including the National Digital Master Plan 2022–2032, the National E-Commerce Strategy 2023 and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030.
The second in command said the integration of technology into correctional services should also comply with applicable cybersecurity and data-protection frameworks to ensure that innovation strengthens service delivery without compromising public trust.
Beyond digital transformation, Kindiki challenged correctional institutions to prioritise rehabilitation through education, vocational training, psychosocial support and restorative justice.
He also emphasised the importance of family participation and community-based alternatives to imprisonment, saying correctional services should prepare inmates for a successful return to society.
“Our correctional institutions must therefore become not only centres of rehabilitation, but also platforms for skills development, innovation and sustainable production,” he said.
The DP said inmates should be given opportunities to acquire practical skills and participate in productive activities that could improve their livelihoods and reduce their chances of returning to crime.
He noted that modern correctional services should focus not only on confinement but also on reforming individuals, restoring their dignity and preparing them to contribute positively to their communities.
The call for technological transformation was reinforced by the theme of this year’s Correctional Service Week, ‘Transforming Correctional Services through Technology and Green Solutions’, which places emphasis on innovation and environmental sustainability.
Prof. Kindiki urged correctional facilities across the country to embrace climate-friendly approaches in their daily operations, including renewable energy, water harvesting and conservation, efficient waste management and climate-smart agriculture.
He said such initiatives could help institutions reduce operating costs while promoting environmental protection and sustainable production.
“I urge you to develop productive farms, strengthen irrigation and agricultural mechanisation, promote appropriate waste-recycling initiatives and expand the use of clean energy,” he said.
The Deputy President also called for tree growing and environmentally responsible infrastructure as part of broader efforts to make correctional facilities more sustainable.
He said investment in productive farms and modern agricultural practices could support food production while equipping inmates with practical skills applicable beyond prison walls.
The push for technology and green solutions reflects a broader ambition to make correctional institutions more efficient, environmentally conscious and focused on rehabilitation.
Prof. Kindiki said the success of the transformation would depend on balancing innovation with respect for human rights and ensuring that rehabilitation remained central to the correctional system.
He urged the department to pursue modernisation in a manner that strengthens institutional performance while creating opportunities for inmates to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.
