The national government has initiated the process of relocating Kitale Prison from the Town Centre following an order issued by President William Ruto in January this year.

On Monday, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki revealed the move is geared towards paving the way for the government to expand the town and develop it to the required standard.

He further disclosed the government would be revoking all the title deeds for the parcel of land where the prison will be transferred to which is allegedly being held by land grabbers.

“The Government is relocating Kitale Prison from the Town Centre to pave the way for a structured, well-planned urban development of the Town. Illegally and/or fraudulently acquired title deeds for grabbed public land in the Town, including land belonging to the Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) will be revoked and the land reverted to public purposes,” CS Kindiki said.

In January, President Ruto revealed that some cartels have grabbed government land meant for the Kenya prisons in that area thus scuttling plans to relocate the prison located in Kitale.

He pointed out that the land where Kitale prisons currently sits should be meant for the construction of a city hence its relocation is inevitable, directing the perpetrators to visit the ministry of land and forfeit the grabbed parcels.