Support prisoners after they leave jail, Kenyans urged

The Nakuru GK Prison on Friday held a graduation ceremony for 38 inmates who have been pursuing a diploma course in theology.

Among the 38 graduates were women who were issued with certificates for courses they have been undertaking in the past one year sponsored by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA).

Nakuru Women GK Prison Officer In-Charge Rosemary Njenga urged Kenyans to embrace the prisoners and offer them jobs once they are through with their sentences.

She said that most of them had acquired skills in various fields and only need support like employment and capital to start businesses.

“Prisoners are still human beings and they never cease to be once they get behind bars and they therefore require support from the society so as to lead a normal life again,” she said.

Rev Patrick Muthungu a minister with the PCEA said during the period, the inmates have gone through a system of behavioural change to ensure that they are different when they leave prison.

The programme was introduced a year ago so as to address behaviour change within the prisons.

Tourabi Nero, who is serving a five-year jail term, said he would utilise the remaining year of his term in changing his fellow inmates using the skills he had acquired.

Nero was jailed in 2013 for child trafficking but says the programme had changed him in relating with the society.

Another inmate, Veneranda Sambola, who has been serving a life jail term before her appeal in September 2014 said the studies will not only help her in finding a job but also in raising her children.

Nakuru Men GK Prison Officer In-Charge James Sawe said the certificates issued to the inmates will make it easy for them to get jobs when they are done with their jail terms.

“They will be able to cope with the society once they are done with their terms because they will have something to show,” he said.