The government has saved a total of Sh 779,764 through the Community Service Order (CSO) in a period of six months this financial year, between July and December 2022.
In a report submitted to the service delivery committee by the sub-county probation officer, Nancy Ngeywo, on station highlights between the periods, there were a total of 46 offenders, with 31 males and 15 females sent to different institutions on CSO.
Ms. Ngeywo said the type of offenses committed during the period under review and put under referrals included 15 cases dealing with alcohol drinks, which was leading.
She indicated that six cases of stealing and gaming, respectively, and four cases of assault causing actual bodily harm.
“Other cases include theft of farm produce and malicious damage to property, which were reported in two cases each,” she said.
The report further indicated that other cases that were referred to their office include creating disturbance, stock theft, possession of wildlife trophy, attempted murder, cultivation of narcotic drugs, possession of cannabis sativa, and destroying cultivated crops, which reported one case each.
Ngeywo said that the offenders were deployed in primary schools, secondary schools, health facilities, deputy county commissioner offices, chief camps, and police stations.
However, the probation officer noted that most of the agencies lack tangible projects and are encouraged to engage their clients (offenders) to do tangible work.
“They stated that they require funds and equipment in order to have projects,” she noted.
The probation officer noted some challenges facing their office, including a lack of courts in Mt. Elgon constituency, hence relies on Kimilili and Sirisia law Courts. “This is very inconveniencing and expensive considering that an officer must be on duty at the court daily,” Ngeywo said.
The probation officer compared their counterparts who walked to court while they had to travel to court, adding that the station lacks a GK vehicle considering the terrain of the sub-county, hence there is a dire need for a GK vehicle to be allocated to the station.
She also said they lack of furniture for clients and raised concerns about inadequate funding, especially with no court in the sub-county.
Present during the tabling of the report were Senior Principal Magistrate Ms. Gladys Adhiambo, who is also the Chairperson of the CSO Case Committee, Regional Probation Director, Western Region, Ms. Judith Mandilla and Bungoma County Probation Director Mr Peter Muchinyi.
By Douglas Mudambo
