In a bid to make presidential pardons more accessible, Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has announced the establishment of legal desks across all counties to assist prisoners and their families in submitting applications to the Power of Mercy Advisory Committee (POMAC).
Speaking on Tuesday during the launch of the National Legal Aid Service in Kibra, Nairobi, Oduor emphasized that the initiative aims to simplify the process for seeking clemency and improve access to justice.
“The Power of Mercy has gone digital, but many people are not using it. Numerous prisoners do not know how to apply to the president for mercy. We will create a desk for the Power of Mercy across these clinics,” she said.
At these desks, officers will guide eligible applicants through the process, ensuring that prisoners and their families can efficiently navigate the presidential pardon system. Beyond pardon applications, the desks will also provide legal guidance on other court-related matters, supporting the government’s goal of expanding legal services nationwide.
This move aligns with recent Cabinet efforts to enhance the presidential power of mercy. In July 2025, the Cabinet approved the proposed Power of Mercy Bill, which, if enacted, will modernize the presidential pardon process and enable the early release of more fully rehabilitated inmates.
Since January, President William Ruto has already secured the release of over 4,500 prisoners, including petty offenders and those serving longer sentences. The Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, revealed that the president granted constitutional release to 56 Kenyans and one foreigner, alongside extending amnesty to petty offenders sentenced to six months or less and other prisoners whose remaining sentences were six months or shorter.
Attorney General Oduor’s initiative seeks to further streamline access to presidential pardons, ensuring that more eligible prisoners benefit from clemency while promoting fairness, justice, and prison decongestion across Kenya.
