Prisoners have now requested to be allowed to express their full democratic rights come 2022 general elections. The plea came after it was noted that Prisoners just got an opportunity to vote for president only.
According to a ruling that was made in 2013, the high court directed that prisoners are, subject to Article 83 (1) of the Constitution entitled to be registered as voters and have the right to vote under Article 38(3)(a) and (b) of the Constitution.
However, it is not clear how the judgment was interpreted as it happened that both prison officers and prisoners who had registered as voters within the prison facilities voted in the presidential election only.
Aloise Onyango Otieno, an inmate at Kamiti maximum prison has now filed an application seeking to have all inmates and prison officers allowed to vote in all areas including Members of the County Assembly, Members of Parliament, Members of Senate, Women Representatives, and Governors.
Kenya has 55,000 persons, who are serving various sentences.