A proposal to relocate Hindi GK Prison and convert its 715-acre site into Lamu Port's Central Business District has reignited debate over the use of prime public lands that belong to prisons across the country.

Lamu Woman Representative Muthoni Marubu has written to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen seeking the relocation of the prison and the immediate allocation of the land for the development of the Lamu Port City CBD.

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from residents and local leaders, with some supporting the idea as a catalyst for development and others warning that land grabbers might take advantage to enrich themselves from the prime land whose value is expected to rise tremendously with the proposed oil refinery project by Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote.

Prison warders and inmates at Hindi GK Prison in Lamu West, Lamu County.

Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation Media Group

The letter, copied to President William Ruto, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Stephen Ikua and Principal Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning Nixon Korir, argues that the land should be put to more productive use.

Hindi GK Prison was established in 1983 following the closure of the historic prison at Lamu Fort in the Old Town. Prison operations were transferred to Hindi, about five kilometres north of Mokowe on the mainland.

More than four decades later, Ms Marubu argues that the prison occupies a strategic parcel of land bordering the Port of Lamu, with much of it remaining undeveloped, thereby limiting industrial growth and urban expansion.

Read: How budget cuts are worsening jail conditions

In the letter, she says the prison land sits next to the Port of Lamu, whose continued expansion as a regional trade, logistics and industrial hub requires a modern port city to support commercial, financial, residential and government functions.

She argues that without a well-planned CBD, the full economic potential of the port and the LAPSSET Corridor cannot be realised.

She also proposes relocating the prison to Kipini on the border of Lamu and Tana River counties, in line with the long-term spatial framework of the LAPSSET Master Plan.

Lamu Woman Representative Muthoni Marubu addresses residents during President William Ruto's visit to Safirisi village in Hindi, Lamu West on May 22, 2026.

Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation Media Group

"This proposal is consistent with Article 62 of the Constitution of Kenya, the Land Act, 2012, the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019, and the County Governments Act, 2012. I respectfully request your favourable consideration of this proposal," reads the letter.

Speaking to the Nation on Friday, Ms Marubu said mega projects such as the Sh310 billion Lamu Port requires proper urban planning. She said the proposed oil refinery project further strengthens the need for a well-planned city to support anticipated investments.

Defending her proposal, Ms Marubu said the prison land is vast, largely undeveloped and strategically located near the port, the main highway and the proposed refinery site.

"It's so strategic because it's also close to the oil refinery proposed site. Currently, the land is almost 100 per cent undeveloped, giving the Government of Kenya a golden chance to plan properly," said Ms Marubu.

"The Hindi GK Prison land isn't public but rather national government land with an already established reservation number and survey plan. If this land is converted into Lamu Port City, I'll be happier to see the plots given to the Lamu people so that they can at least benefit by either developing or selling them to investors," she added.

Expanding the facility

Former Hindi Ward councillor Mohamed Yahya Shamuty, questioned the proposal, arguing that LAPSSET had already acquired vast tracts of land in Lamu. The project took over 70,000 acres of land.

Mr Shamuty claimed the proposal could be part of a hidden agenda by the wealthy to acquire the prison land and insisted it should be preserved for future generations.

"LAPSSET took massive lands from residents, with some yet to be compensated to date. What they took is enough. I don't support that proposal by our woman representative at all," said Mr Shamuty.

However, Lamu Youth Wing leader Issack Yunus said relocating the prison would help unlock Lamu's economic potential. Mr Yunus argued that vast tracts of public and private land across the Coast, particularly in Lamu and Tana River, have remained idle for decades, limiting agricultural production, industrial expansion and urban development.

"I fully support MP Marubu's proposal. The Hindi GK Prison land is idle despite it bordering the Port of Lamu. What's the essence of having idle, forested land in a very strategic place like that?" said Mr Yunus.

On Sunday, Lamu County Commissioner Stephen Sangolo said crucial discussions concerning the Hindi GK Prison should focus on expanding the facility rather than having it relocated.

Mr Sangolo noted that under the Prisons Act, establishing a prison in any place always follows certain strict procedures, including official declaration through formal gazette notices.

Hindi GK Prison in Lamu West, Lamu County.

Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation Media Group

He said under devolution, it is better that every county like Lamu has their own high courts and main prisons as that brings services closer to the people.

“If Lamu is expanding at that high rate, then, it means we have to reconsider expanding crucial facilities like prisons to help serve specific societal needs that are likely to arise with the incoming developments. Our talks should, therefore, stick at expanding the Hindi GK Prison rather than the proposal to have it relocated to Kipini,” said Mr Sangolo.

He said currently, Lamu lacks a High Court, noting that discussions have been ongoing to have one such a facility established now that the county government of Lamu already issued land and title a deed to the Judiciary for the same at Mokowe area.

“If we’re pushing for the establishment of a High Court to expand Lamu judiciary services, then we should also consider expanding prison services so that we’ve remand for children, remand for those sentenced to death and any other services meant to provide secure and humane containment for individuals awaiting trial or serving sentences,” said Mr Sangolo.

Read: One toilet, hundreds of men: Dire conditions in Nakuru's overcrowded prisons

He added, “Prison services don’t just focus on containment or jailing. We also need to think of the wider rehabilitation beat. Those prisoners are offered with educational programs, vocational training, and psychological support to help offenders reform before returning to society as good citizens. The space we’ve in Hindi is enough to cater for all that, including related infrastructure establishment.”

Proposals to relocate prisons, especially from urban towns have been common in the country in the past years. In 2021, the government proposed relocating major congested and dilapidated prisons from prime urban land in Nairobi and Mombasa, arguing that facilities like Kamiti and Lang'ata in Nairobi, and Shimo La Tewa in Mombasa occupied valuable land better suited for urban development and amenities.

According to the 2026/27 Programme Based Budget for the State Department for Correctional Services, the government plans to "prioritise the relocation of correctional facilities" alongside expansion and modernisation of prison infrastructure to reduce congestion.

skazungu@ke.nationmedia.com

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