By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 22 December 2025 - For 20 mothers at Eldoret Women’s Prison, end-year festivities arrived not with decorations, but with an unexpected court order that restored their freedom to fully get time with their children and the families.
The High Court’s decision to release the women ahead of the festive season places a human face on Kenya’s growing shift toward restorative justice.
Justice Reuben Nyakundi directed that inmates serving sentences of less than three months be released after a review of their conduct and rehabilitation.
The move, targeting mothers living with young children in custody, reflects a judicial recognition that punishment does not occur in isolation. Children, though innocent, often bear the heaviest emotional cost of incarceration.
“These children are innocent,” Justice Nyakundi said during a visit to the prison.
“As an act of mercy, we have approved the release of more than 20 mothers after carefully reviewing their files.” His words underscored a broader concern within the Judiciary: that prison should not become a child’s earliest environment because of a parent’s minor offence.
Beyond individual relief, the decision highlights persistent systemic pressures. Eldoret Women’s Prison, designed for fewer than 200 inmates, continues to face congestion.
According to Officer in Charge Patricia Makali, releasing inmates with fewer than 90 days remaining on their sentences helps ease overcrowding while supporting reintegration.
“Those released have shown genuine reform and gained skills that can help them earn a living once back in society,” she said.
The timing of the release amplifies its emotional impact. It is December with holidays often associated with family and belonging.
Such a time can be especially painful behind bars—more so for mothers separated from young children.
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One beneficiary described the ruling as a “festive miracle,” promising to “live responsibly and be a good citizen.”
Such testimonies reveal how small judicial interventions can restore hope and motivate change.
From a policy perspective, the initiative reflects a gradual but significant shift away from purely punitive justice.
Justice Nyakundi noted that the programme will extend beyond the holidays, with courts working alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Kenya Prisons Service to regularly review minor cases. Community service and early release, he said, could increasingly replace short custodial sentences.
Critically, the case raises questions about how the justice system balances accountability with compassion. While the law must be enforced, the release of these mothers suggests that mercy—when carefully applied—can strengthen families without undermining justice.
It also acknowledges the long-term social costs of incarcerating caregivers for minor offences.
As the women return home, their freedom carries responsibility. Reintegration will depend on community support, economic opportunities and sustained rehabilitation. Yet for now, the decision offers a powerful reminder that justice can be firm without being blind to human dignity.
In choosing mercy for these mothers, the court has turned Christmas into more than a holiday—it has made it a moment of renewal, not only for families reunited, but for a justice system seeking a more humane path.
Joy as 20 Mothers Released from Eldoret Prison Following Review of Conduct
The move targets mothers living with young children in custody
