TENSION GRIPS NAIVASHA GK PRISON AFTER INMATE'S DEATH

Tension has gripped Naivasha GK Prison after the death of an inmate sparked a major protest involving over 3,000 prisoners, some of whom are serving life and death sentences.
The unrest began on Wednesday August 4, 2025, evening after word spread among inmates that a middle-aged prisoner had allegedly died due to assault by prison warders. The inmates staged a protest, boycotting meals and clashing with prison officers, demanding accountability for the incident.
However, prison authorities have disputed the claims, stating that the inmate had been admitted to Naivasha Sub-County Hospital for several days before succumbing to illness. “The reports that he died in the prison are not true,” said Gerald Ongume, the Officer in Charge. “A group of inmates who had earlier refused to participate in work activities seized the moment to create chaos.”
The situation has since been contained following intervention by prison officers, but tension remains high within the maximum-security facility.
This is not the first time the prison has faced such controversy. In 2019, two warders were interdicted after an inmate allegedly died from torture in solitary confinement, prompting a report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
The latest incident comes as the Kenyan Senate investigates a series of custodial deaths across the country’s prisons and police stations, raising fresh concerns about transparency, accountability, and the treatment of detainees.
Authorities say investigations into the latest incident are underway.