In many prisons and jails in Kenya, the majority of inmates are shaved for various reasons.
This is governed by the Prisons Act (Cap 90 of the Laws of Kenya), which grants the Commissioner-General of Prisons the authority to enforce hygiene and discipline standards.
According to Kenyan law, all convicted prisoners sentenced to more than one month in prison must have their hair cut short and facial hair trimmed to maintain a clean and decent appearance.
However, female prisoners, prisoners awaiting trial or appeal, and Sikh prisoners-who are subject to different regulations based on health, personal preference, or religious beliefs-are exempt.
