Nairobi: The State Department for Correctional Services in Kenya has taken a significant step towards sustainability by forming partnerships focused on developing renewable energy infrastructure within the country’s correctional facilities. This initiative aims to modernize the energy sources used in prisons, emphasizing clean and renewable options.
According to Kenya News Agency, Sammy Kioko, the Secretary Administration of the Department, announced that transitioning to clean energy, along with digitalization and modernization, are prioritized in the department’s reform agenda. Representing the Principal Secretary, Dr. Salome Beacco, Kioko spoke during a meeting that included a delegation from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), led by Kelly McAulay, the Director of UNOPS East and Southern Africa.
Kioko highlighted that the Principal Secretary is spearheading efforts to shift all correctional facilities from using wood fuel to adopting renewable energy solutions, such as solar-hybrid power and clean cooking technologies. The first phase of this transition, focusing on clean cooking, is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
Kelly McAulay expressed UNOPS’ commitment to supporting these efforts through its mandate, emphasizing the potential to explore further cooperation opportunities to advance sustainable infrastructure within Kenya’s correctional sector.
In collaboration with the State Department for Petroleum and other agencies, the department has already developed design plans for clean cooking kitchens. The initial rollout will focus on facilities in Nairobi and surrounding areas, eventually expanding to other regions across the country.
This initiative is expected to contribute to reduced environmental degradation, improved public health, enhanced energy security, and support for Kenya’s low-carbon development agenda, ultimately providing more efficient and sustainable energy solutions for correctional institutions.
