Inmates will no longer be forced to sleep on the cold, overcrowded floors if a new initiative unveiled on Sunday at Nairobi West Maximum Prison is successfully implemented.

The programme, dubbed the Triple-Decker Bed Campaign, led by government and supported by well-wishers, seeks to provide a bed for every inmate in the country in a bid to decongest prisons and restore dignity to inmates.

According to Salome Beacco, the Principal Secretary for Correctional Services, the project is not just a logistical fix, it is a movement for dignity, justice, and humanity.

“We are here because we believe that where there is incarceration, there must also be compassion. Where there is confinement, there must be care. And where there are challenges, we must rise with solutions,” said Dr Beacco.

Prisons in the country are currently home to over 60,000 inmates, yet only a fraction have access to proper bedding.

Beacco said that at least 20,000 triple-decker beds are required nationwide to ensure that no inmate sleeps on the floor.

“Our prisons are overcrowded. That is the reality. But it is a reality we refuse to normalise. Overcrowding strains rehabilitation, compromises hygiene, and erodes the very foundation of human dignity.

“But we also know this: the answer does not always lie in building new walls. Sometimes, it lies in rethinking how we use the space we already have.”

The campaign is rooted in compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules, which are the UN minimum standards for the treatment of offenders.

But Beacco was quick to point out that the effort goes beyond international benchmarks, stating that it is more than compliance, but that which reflects conscience.

“We are choosing a path that prioritizes humanity. That recognises that confinement must never translate into indignity,” she said.

She said the beds are not only intended to improve health and sanitation, but also to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society by creating a more conducive environment.

“This iconic campaign, dubbed A bed for every inmate, no one left behind, is about optimising space, reaffirming dignity and enhancing overall health. All leading to ensuring our clients sleep in safety, with privacy, and with a sense of worth,” she said.

The campaign was officially launched by Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Nairobi Catholic Archdiocese.

The archbishop called on Kenyans of goodwill to support the initiative both materially and spiritually.

“We are here for a purpose, to start a project that we ask everybody of goodwill to accompany us, join us, and support us. Let us reflect on issues that affect us because those who are here come for various reasons. It is a moment to reflect deeply and to accept that we can do something as Kenyans,” said Anyolo.

Beacco noted that while women’s prisons already have adequate bedding due to past initiatives, the same cannot be said of male prisons, where over 95 per cent of the inmate population is concentrated.

“We are saying He for He because the women’s prisons all have beds. We are calling upon all the men of goodwill, regardless of where you come from, come and join hands,” she said.

She said that the campaign is designed for sustainability. The beds will be fabricated locally using inmate labor in existing correctional facilities with workshops. This includes Nairobi West, Nairobi Area, Kamiti, Manyani, and other maximum-security prisons across the country.

“We already have the designs, and the Commissioner General’s office will handle the modalities of fabricating those beds. You can contribute in cash or kind,” said Dr Beacco.

She said that a single triple-decker bed costs around Sh40,000, and the call is for individuals or groups to “adopt a bed” by contributing the required materials.

“Come together, yourself alone or with your friends, and donate generously. We are hoping by the end of October or by the end of the year, if all of us come together as Kenyans, we can have 20,000 beds,” said Dr Beacco.

The Nairobi West Prison, which has over 500 inmates, was the first beneficiary to receive 105 beds.

“To the inmates, this is for you. It is a sign that even in custody, your dignity matters. You are not defined by your past, but by your potential,” she said.

Archbishop Anyolo reminded the public that prisoners are part of society and deserve compassion.

“We want to ask that it is something that you can reflect not only in their minds but also in their hearts because it’s within our hearts that we want to build our nation,” said Anyolo.