Inside Plan to Relocate Prison for University Expansion

The government has revealed that it is in the process of relocating the Homa Bay GK Prison to allow for the expansion of the Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay County.
In a statement on Thursday, August 28, State Department of Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco said that relocation of the prison, which will see 113 hectares belonging to the prison handed over to Tom Mboya University, is in line with a President William Ruto’s directive.
According to Beacco, the land will be used to construct 5,000 housing units, intended for staff and student hostels at the university. The PS also revealed that the Attorney General has already provided a legal framework that will cater to the seamless relocation of the prison.
The prison will be relocated to an alternative land that will be provided by the county government of Homa Bay, according to the PS.
The PS further assured that the relocation and the expansion of the university will be key in attracting more development projects in the area.
“Speaking during a meeting with the committee tasked with actualizing the plan, Principal Secretary Dr Salome Beacco said the plan is part of the government’s broader agenda of promoting development in congested areas as well as prudent utilization of the land resource,” the Department stated.
“The directive that will see about 113 hectares belonging to the Homabay GK Prison transferred to the Tom Mboya University, with the State Department issuing equivalent alternative land by the County government of Homabay,” it added.
Before the relocation, the PS has assured that the government will conduct a public participation exercise in addition to conducting a feasibility study for the alternative land that will be used to establish the prison.
“As part of the implementation process, the State Department for Correctional Services plans to conduct a public participation exercise on the planned relocation as well as conduct a feasibility study on the alternative land earmarked for the construction of the new Homabay GK prison,” the state department stated.
In his directive earlier this year, President Rutoordered the relocation of the prison to the Vast Lambwe valleyto pave the way for the expansion of the University.
Speaking during the Blue Economy Summit in Homa Bay County on Friday, May 30, the President urged the residents of the county not to view the decision torelocate the prison as a punishment to the prisoners, since the Lambwe valley was known for tsetse fly infestation.
Ruto stated that the relocation of the prison to the valley was due to the availability of underutilised County land, which could be put to good use.
“I have instructed the Ministry of Education and the Internal Security to work on making sure that extra land is given to Tom Mboya University, especially from the prison which is here,” Ruto stated.
“I think we can take the prisoners to Lambwe Valley. Not because it is infested with tsetse flies but because there is adequate space there,” he added.