The prison’s department of education is working in collaboration with other stakeholders to boost formal education to inmates, Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco has said.

The PS noted that many inmates have requested to be provided with formal education so by the time they complete their sentence terms, they will have valid academic certificates.

Beacco, speaking when she visited Murang’a and Marajau prisons said her department is working to increase classrooms in prisons and teachers to enable interested inmates access formal education.

Last year, the PS added, prisons trained 57 teachers equipping them with skills on training Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

Beacco observed that the prison department is also establishing science laboratories, computer labs and furniture so that the inmates get quality education to enable them access employment once they finish their jail terms.

Beacco further said they are exploring possibilities to expand and equip prison workshops to boost vocational training among inmates.

She observed that together with some agencies like National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) they will expand and equip the workshops so as to provide vocational skills to willing inmates.

Beacco called members of the society to support works done by prisons by buying items and equipment manufactured by inmates.

Prisons have quality products made in their workshops and one way for Kenyans to support our work is to buy items made by the inmates. This will support our correctional works and reduce burden to the government.

During the visit, the department of correctional services donated toiletries, 100 mattresses and 70 blankets to inmates held at Murang’a prisons.

Story by Joe Gathuya