100-Year-Old Woman Released from Kenyan Prison after Campaign for Her Release

NAIROBI – A 100-year-old woman was released from prison in the central Kenyan town of Embu, where she was serving a three-month sentence for illegal appropriation of land, after a campaign on social media platforms called for her release, local media reported on Friday.

Hundreds of users from social networks showed their solidarity with the campaign by sharing the hashtag, #SaveJailed100yrGranny, calling for her release.

The old woman was jailed on March 10 for failing to implement a court order requiring her to give away two hectares (just under 5 acres) of land to an individual who filed a claim that she had illegally taken the plot.

After spending nine days in jail, a Nairobi County senator, Mike Sonko, paid her bail of 100,000 shillings (just over $1,000) to release the elderly woman, who was able to leave the prison on Thursday, said local newspaper Daily Nation.

The Sonko Rescue Team, a group of volunteers who work under the senator for community service in Nairobi, will perform a complete medical checkup on the woman to ensure that she is stable.

Imprisoning a woman of her age was described as “immoral” and “embarrassing” by many Kenyans on various Twitter accounts.

Meanwhile, an Embu County senator, Lenny Kivuti, announced that he will donate another 100,000 shillings (about $1,000) to the elderly.