Ruto grants clemency to 57 prisoners

By Newsflash Writer

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 28, 2025 — President William Ruto has granted clemency to 57 individuals serving long-term prison sentences, in a sweeping exercise of the prerogative of mercy aimed at advancing rehabilitation and restorative justice in Kenya.

The announcement was made on Monday through a statement from Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei.

Acting on the recommendations of the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee (POMAC), the President exercised his constitutional authority under Article 133 of the Constitution to pardon, remit, or commute sentences.

According to the Executive Office, the presidential acts of mercy affected both Kenyan citizens and one foreign national.

Thirty-one individuals serving life sentences were granted conditional release, while a foreign citizen from an East African Community (EAC) partner state also received conditional release and repatriation. Additionally, 25 inmates had the remaining portions of their custodial sentences remitted, leading to their immediate release.

In a move further emphasizing compassion within the justice system, President Ruto also declared a general amnesty for all petty offenders. Those sentenced to six months or less were granted a full pardon, as were prisoners serving longer sentences who had six months or less remaining.

Call for greater rehabilitation and reintegration

“The exercise of mercy breathes life into the principles of rehabilitation and restorative justice,” the statement read, underscoring the administration’s commitment to a more humane criminal justice system.

The President also urged all stakeholders within the criminal justice system — from police and prosecutors to prison officials and community leaders — to explore new ways to embed the principles of reconciliation, restoration, rehabilitation, and reintegration. This, he said, would help strengthen the arc of justice across the country.

The full details of the pardons and commutations will be formally published in this week’s edition of the Kenya Gazette.

The prerogative of mercy is a powerful constitutional tool available to the President, enabling acts of clemency based on considerations such as age, health, exemplary conduct while in prison, and efforts toward rehabilitation. Historically, such exercises have sought to balance justice with mercy, particularly in a justice system often criticized for overcrowded prisons and long incarceration periods.

Legal experts noted that today’s clemency grants could help ease congestion in correctional facilities and offer reformed individuals a second chance at life outside prison walls. Human rights groups have also welcomed the move, calling it a step toward a more rehabilitative model of justice rather than one centered solely on punishment.

President Ruto’s exercise of mercy comes at a time when the country is grappling with broader reforms in its criminal justice system. Calls have been growing for a stronger emphasis on alternatives to incarceration, especially for petty offenses, and for better support systems to help former prisoners reintegrate into society successfully.