Governor Joshua Irungu has announced that the children of inmates serving their sentences at correctional facilities within Laikipia County will automatically qualify for education bursary scholarships.
Speaking during a visit at the three local correctional facilities including the Nanyuki GK remand, Rumuruti and Nyahururu prisons Governor Irungu pledged to honour the requests of the inmates to consider their children’ education
He assured the inmates to whom he had donated Christmas gifts that their children would be given priority since the parents serving jail terms had no means of income and his administration was willing to help out in their education.
“I have directed the county bursary board to approve all bursary requests of our inmates in local prisons to ease the burden of educating children while behind bars,” Governor Irungu said.
The governor toured the facilities with a hoard of goodies for not just the prisoners but also the correctional officers, including foodstuffs and sanitary ware.
He added that his administration would play a key role in ensuring that reformed convicts were properly integrated back into society in a bid to reform them and ensure that they didn’t slide back into negative vices.
“We’re not working on a program to have some of the inmates trained on various crafts be absorbed into our various Technical and Vocational Training Institutions to serve as trainers since they have all the necessary skills to teach our youth schooling in those facilities, ” he added.
Irungu further announced that his administration would provide tents and chairs to the correctional facilities to enable the inmates to hold their internal functions.
“My office will also provide shaving machines and also ensure that the local dispensary is equipped with drugs and also deploy a clinical officer,” He said.
Lydia Achieng who is serving her time at the Nanyuki women’s remand facility urged the governor to support learning at the institution by providing books at the local library and also help in setting up a paralegal office to aid in those seeking to have their cases appealed in various courts in the area.
Laikipia County Prisons Commander Martin Okoko hailed the goodwill gesture by the governor saying that the move would go a long way in ensuring the inmates are well reintegrated back into society once they complete their terms.
“This is truly a welcome gesture from the governor and not just to our inmates but also the officers who will most certainly be on duty throughout the festivities ensuring the safety in and around the correctional facilities,” Okoko said.
By Martin Munyi
