Cholera Outbreak Hits Thika Main Prison
The government has embarked on the process of shifting inmates from Thika Prison to nearby prisons following the cholera outbreak.
The inmates will be shifted to Yatta, Ruiru Murang’a prisons a move intended to ease congestion in the prison.
The correctional center whose is capacity 500 is currently handling more than 1200 inmates therefore proving difficult to contain the outbreak.
According to Correctional Services Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni decongestion programs put in place will reduce the spread of the disease across facility.
She also stated that some of the inmates who tested positive to the virus for the last one week have been attended to.
“We have managed to contain the disease. From the over 38 inmates who contracted the virus over the past one week, only seven are still sick. The remaining 30 are stable. However, one is critical and is hospitalized,” said Muthoni.
Muthoni also asked the prison’s management to ensure that new inmates undergo screening before being admitted to the facility.
“Going forward, we want to ensure that before new prisoners are admitted at the facility, they get tested for cholera. That way, we will end new infections,” she said.
She also requested the prison management to maintain high standard of hygiene adding that they should liaise with a local water distributor to ensure frequent flow of water.
“We also ask the prison management to ensure a high level of hygiene and water flow at the facility. They should also liaise with the local water distributing company Thiwasco to ensure they don’t ration the commodity,” she added.
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