Kenya to build new jail for Islamic extremists

“Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta announced plans to build a separate prison for terrorist suspects during a graduation ceremony for more than 2,000 new prison wardens,” reported Voice of America (VOA).

“We will establish a new prison to hold violent extremist offenders. The truth of the matter is that we cannot allow them to spread their poison to vulnerable Kenyans,” he said.

No details were given of where and when the prison would be built. But the plan comes in the wake of senior Kenyan security officials expressing concern about extremists spreading their ideology to other prisoners and radicalising them in jail.

During the past four years, Kenya has witnessed a series of terror attacks from Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabab, reported VOA.

The group is believed to have sympathisers in Kenya, especially in the Eastleigh district of Nairobi, home to many Somali immigrants.

However, human rights activists are expected to protest against jails built specifically for extremists.

University of Nairobi Sociology Professor Octavian Gakuru questioned the methods to be used to confine minors and hardcore radicals.

“If a 14-year-old found armed, commits a crime … mass murder or destruction of property, what happens? Those who are Kenyans and also those who are non-Kenyans should be given due protection and rights to law and justice,” said Gakuru.

Gakuru added that the proposed jail should focus on reforming inmates.

“There is this view that human beings are able to change and also improve along the way at one point, so we never quite give up. I think that is why societies, some of them, now have abolished capital punishment,” said the professor.