This archive report was first published on 15 December 2019.
Joseph 'Jowie' Irungu, a Kenyan prisoner, found himself in hot water after being caught with contraband during a random search at Kamiti Maximum Prison in 2019.
Despite the prison's stringent security measures, including cameras and vigilant guards, contraband somehow made its way into the facility.
Irungu was subsequently transferred to Manyani Prison, a harsher environment surrounded by wild animals and located in a remote area.
While the exact nature of the contraband Irungu was caught with remains unclear, prisons around the world have strict rules against a range of items, including drugs, communication devices, and weapons.
These prohibited items can be broadly categorized into several groups, including:
- Drugs, including notifiable substances like cannabis and non-notifiable items that may indicate the presence of drugs
- Drugs paraphernalia, such as smoking devices and needles
- Communication devices, like cell phones and SIM cards
- Weapons, including improvised weapons and hobby tools
- Alcohol and related items
- Tattoo equipment, including needles and ink
- Other items, such as money, gang paraphernalia, prescription medicines, and tobacco
