Parliament pass Bill allowing Kenya to swap prisoners with other countries
THE National Assembly yesterday passed a bill allowing Kenya to swap prisoners with other countries, under agreements between the two states.
This means Kenyans who are held in foreign prisons can serve their terms in Kenya if agreements are made with the countries holding them.
A number of Kenyans have been jailed in foreign countries, while Kenya has jailed several pirates, terrorism suspects and foreigners for being illegally in the country.
China and Iran earlier this year asked their citizens sentenced by Kenyan courts be released into their custody and serve their terms in their home countries.
The bill spells out conditions under which transfers can be undertaken.
“For a transfer to take place, an application must be made to Kenya by the sentencing country or by the government of Kenya,” the bill says.
