Correctional facilities in Kenya are grappling with a silent but deadly health crisis. Overcrowding, poor ventilation, and delayed diagnosis have turned prisons into high risk environments for the rapid spread of drug resistant tuberculosis (DRTB), threatening not only prisoners but also the wider community.
From 27th to 28th October 2025, the Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network (KELIN), in collaboration with the National TB Program, convened a high-level advocacy workshop under the Unitaid-supported COMBAT-DRTB project. The event brought together a range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Legal Resources Foundation, the Law Society of Kenya, Amnesty International, the Kenya Prisons Service, the Police, the Ministry of Education’s School Health Department, County Government, CTLC Kericho, and senior officials from the County Assembly.
The workshop provided a platform for policymakers, correctional officials, civil society actors, and health professionals to engage in frank, evidence driven dialogue on the challenges prisoners face in accessing quality DRTB and hepatitis C services. Through technical presentations, panel discussions, and collaborative group work, participants co-developed strategies and accountability frameworks aimed at improving access to diagnostics, treatment, and care in correctional facilities.
Supported by Unitaid under the COMBAT-DRTB initiative, the discussions emphasized the urgent need to strengthen prison health systems, ensure timely access to life saving interventions, and protect the rights and well being of incarcerated populations. Addressing these gaps not only safeguards prisoners’ health but also helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases into the wider community, contributing to Kenya’s commitment to universal health coverage.
This forum demonstrates the power of multisectoral collaboration, bringing together government leadership, civil society, and global partners to tackle some of the most pressing public health challenges in Kenya’s prisons, contributing to saving lives and promoting human rights.
For more information, please contact:
Ibrahim Kimani
Project officer – HIV/TB wainainakimani@kelinkenya.org
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
Kuwinda Lane, Karen C, off Langáta Road.
