Kenya Prisons Service has launched a new sports initiative aimed at strengthening officers’ mental health, boosting morale and enhancing cohesion within its ranks.

The programme, unveiled during the first-ever Commissioner General’s ball games, will bring together officers from the service’s 10 regions to compete across 13 disciplines, marking a renewed push to revive internal unity and rebuild the institution’s sporting profile.

Speaking during the launch, Prisons Commissioner General Patrick Aranduh said the games are designed to address emerging mental health challenges while fostering teamwork among officers.

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“In an effort to create more cohesion amongst officers and fight an emerging issue within the society – mental health, the Kenya Prisons is advocating for participation of its officers in sports that would in turn, build their physical and mental faculties,” Aranduh said.

He said the inter-regional competitions would play a key role in strengthening relationships among officers while improving their overall wellbeing and productivity at work.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of the demanding nature of prison service work, where officers often operate in high-pressure environments that involve managing inmates, ensuring security and responding to emergencies.

Such conditions have increasingly drawn attention to the need for structured mental health support within disciplined services.

Aranduh said the games would also help restore Kenya Prisons’ standing in national sports, where the institution has historically excelled, particularly in volleyball and netball.

“Kenya Prisons’ name on the national sports map had gone down and these activities, that spread across 13 disciplines, will get us back into the different sports we engage in,” he said.

The service now plans to use the championships as a platform to identify and nurture talent, with a view to expanding participation beyond its traditional strengths.

Prisons sports coordinator and former athlete Catherine Ndereba said the inter-station format of the games would be key in identifying new talent and shaping the next generation of sports personalities.

“The games, which are inter-station, will be critical in nurturing talent and bringing forth the next generation of the country’s sports personalities,” Ndereba said.

Deputy Commissioner General Nicholas Maswai added that the service is broadening its sports portfolio, with plans to introduce martial arts alongside athletics and ball games.

“Apart from the ball games and athletics, the service will also introduce martial arts competitions,” Maswai said.

Earlier, the Kenya Prisons Service had rallied public interest in the championships through a post on its official X platform on March 27, calling on stakeholders and fans to support the event.

“You don’t want to miss this one. The sponsors are ready and so are we. All that’s left is you to witness the action. One Service. One Spirit. One Championship,” the statement read in part.

The service also confirmed receiving support from partners, with Maswai, who chairs the Kenya Prisons Sports Council, receiving donations ahead of the championships.

The Commissioner General of Prisons Ball Games Championships 2026 are expected to serve not only as a competitive platform but also as a wellness intervention, positioning sport as a key tool in addressing mental health challenges among officers while strengthening unity across the service.