Ruto Grants Presidential Pardon to 4,700 Inmates in Major Clemency Exercise

President William Ruto has exercised his constitutional powers of mercy to grant clemency to over 4,700 prisoners across Kenya, marking one of the most significant mass pardons in recent years.

The sweeping presidential pardon, announced through a gazette notice dated May 8, affects two distinct categories of inmates: 2,135 petty offenders serving six-month sentences and 2,664 prisoners with six months or less remaining on their jail terms.

Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, who chairs the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee that recommended the clemency, confirmed that all beneficiaries had demonstrated good conduct while in custody.

The decision was made under Article 133 of the Constitution and Section 23 of the Power of Mercy Act, which empowers the President to grant mercy based on committee recommendations.

This latest clemency exercise follows a smaller presidential pardon last month, when President Ruto freed 57 prisoners, including 31 individuals serving life sentences who were granted conditional release. That earlier batch also included 25 inmates who had their remaining sentences reduced, plus one foreign national from an East African Community partner state who was released on condition of repatriation.

The announcement of the April pardons was made by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, who noted that “His Excellency the President has extended the hand of clemency to fifty-six Kenyan citizens and one foreign national.”

The current mass pardon specifically targets inmates serving shorter sentences, reflecting what appears to be a strategic approach to reducing prison overcrowding while focusing on offenders deemed to pose minimal risk to society.

The emphasis on “good conduct” as a qualifying criterion suggests the clemency is being used as an incentive for rehabilitation and positive behavior within the prison system.

The timing and scale of these presidential pardons indicate a deliberate policy shift toward using executive clemency as a tool for criminal justice reform.

By prioritizing petty offenders and those nearing the end of their sentences, the administration appears to be balancing public safety concerns with humanitarian considerations.

The Power of Mercy Advisory Committee’s role in vetting candidates for clemency ensures that such decisions undergo careful review before reaching the President’s desk, maintaining checks and balances in the exercise of this significant constitutional power.

These clemency exercises represent thousands of families being reunited and individuals getting a second chance at rebuilding their lives, while potentially easing pressure on Kenya’s correctional facilities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​