State To Roll Out Literacy Programme In Prisons.
The government will prioritize literacy initiatives that provide inmates around the nation with the opportunity to improve their reading and writing abilities and technical capabilities.
During a Wednesday familiarization tour of Mwea GK Jail in Kirinyaga, Correctional Services PS Mary Muthoni stated that in addition to attempting to decongest the prison, she will address the issue of prisoner literacy.
The bulk of inmates, according to Muthoni, have low levels of literacy, which can be improved through the growth of learning activities in TVET colleges.
“The literacy level of the inmates is not up to the global standards. We want to ensure we improve by offering skilled based activities,” she said.
“We will offer skills, especially technical ones like those in our TVETs, which can help them in future,” she said.
The PS said that inmates should not only reform, but also acquire technical skills that may be applied in the real world upon release.
The PS continued, “The prisoners should not only reform while in correctional facility, but also transform by getting skills which after they can get funds to start their own business.“
She went on to say that in the past, learning in the correctional institution has helped a number of offenders to advance to higher levels of school, while others have graduated with technical skills that have facilitated their reintegration into society.
This year, the prison enrolled more than 100 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) pupils, with 17 of them sitting for the exam in the Kiryaga County facility.
Regarding congestion, the PS stated that they are in discussions with key institutions, particularly the Judiciary, to allow those with minor offenses to work under probation.
She remarked that they are currently in the process of identifying persons who may be granted clemency by the head of state.
“Another major challenge, I will look into is the congestion. We will have discussion with the judiciary to see how to deal with those involved in petty crimes,” she said.
“We are also in process of forwarding names of those who can be freed by President through Power of Mercy,” she added.
Muthoni stated that we are all members of the same society, and she hopes that in the future, jails will be converted into TVET schools.
“We are one as a society and when the prisoners are freed we have to welcome them back to the society. We want in future to see some prison structures being converted into schools or TVETs,” she further said.
The PS also agreed to investigate the morale of the prison employees with regard to housing and promotions.
She stated that the promotion will be granted to the appropriate people at the right time, just as state honors for exceptional performance.
“The morale of our wardens also is key. We will ensure that those deserving to get promotion in time. We want to see them getting state honors like other people and even junior wardens who excel in different fields,” she explained.
The PS was accompanied by the Commissioner of Prisons, retired Brigadier John Warioba, the Commissioner of Kirinyaga County, Moses Ivuto, and other National Government Administration Officers.
State To Roll Out Literacy Programme In Prisons.
