The Principal Secretary for Correctional Services Salome Beacco has urged the Judiciary to adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms as a measure to decongest prisons in the country.
Speaking at Kakamega Main Prison, PS Beacco said other mechanisms the Judiciary officers can adopt include probation orders and community service orders.
She said more than half of the people at Kakamega Main Prison are remandees as she discouraged recidivism where a convicted criminal reoffends.
Beacco said the department of Correctional Services has moved from punishing offenders to rehabilitation and asked stakeholders both private and in government to support in providing skills to inmates so that they can start income generating activities once freed.
She noted that most inmates have expressed the desire to go back to school and continue with their education as she asks partners who can support them with school fees to come on board.
“Having moved from punishment to rehabilitation we need to equip these inmates with relevant skills so that when they go out there and take advantage of Hustler fund to set up in self-employment, they cannot earn a living if they lack skills,” she pointed out.
PS Beacca noted that they are currently educating inmates at Shikusa Borstal institution which has a computer lab and those at Kakamega Main and Kakamega Women prison.
She noted that most of the prisons they have visited need tools and equipment to continue offering Vocational Training to inmates.
“I have seen that we are providing vocational training in the areas of welding, tailoring, carpentry and computers at Shikusa Borstal. We want to confirm and affirm that we as a state department are working to improve these facilities,” she added.
She called on other stakeholders including manufacturers, schools, hardware dealers among other relevant organizations to support the prisons through their Corporate Social Responsibilities(CSRs) in the areas of TVETs, crops department, livestock, and industrial department by providing tools and training them.
“If you can assist us with equipment in all of these sectors as well as come and offer training we will be willing to work with you and formulate relevant MOUs,” she added.
By Moses Wekesa
