Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka came face to face with the pathetic living conditions of prison staff.

The VP was taken aback when officers narrated to him how they share tiny rooms partitioned with bed sheets.

"We are forced to talk to our partners in low tones to avoid disturbing our room mates who are just next to us," said one of the officers at the Thika Prison.

"This is extremely unacceptable. How does one expect married officers to share a room with grown children and single officers?" asked Kalonzo.

He went on: "The officers deserve better housing and better terms of service. They are living as prisoners themselves in those tiny rooms."

He said it was wrong to ask the prison staff to purchase their own uniforms while other members of the disciplined forces were supplied with free uniforms.

Kalonzo said regular police officers and other members of the disciplined forces are regularly promoted while prison officials are overlooked.

Said the VP: "It is extremely terrifying to see an officer placing his gun on the ground as he protests for his rights. It is my prayer that that should not happen again for it scares the common man."

"There must be something terribly wrong somewhere and I want to assure the warders and other staff members under my ministry that I honestly agree that they deserve better treatment," he said to a cheering staff that listened to him.

The VP, who was accompanied by Assistant minister, Ms Lorna Laboso, and Prisons Commandant, Mr Gilbert Omondi, said any prisons officer implicated in any scandal would be disciplined.

Kalonzo, however, called for officers' patience, saying the Government would address their plight. "I want the officers to call off their intended strike and give me a little more time to address their problems," he pleaded.