State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has called on Kenyans to purchase furniture products made by inmates as a way of supporting the rehabilitation programme run by prisons.
Ms Muthoni said prisons operate one of the robust carpentry industry in the country which produce high end furniture and asked members of the public to visit any correctional facility and procure the items.
“The industry is open to ordinary Kenyans.It has been very instrumental in furnishing the National Assembly, Statehouse, County Assemblies among other government agencies,” she said.
Speaking when she concluded a two day visit of prisons in Machakos, Nairobi and Kitui counties at the Machakos main prisons, Ms Muthoni said the money raised will be ploughed back to buy raw materials for training of the inmates.
The PS noted that the training that also includes masonry will enhance reintegration of the offenders in the society through acquisition of skills for gainful employment.
“The skills will help the inmates gain income and coexist peacefully with the community, “added Ms.Muthoni.
She also called for Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) as a way of settling disputes and said the state department will collaborate with the national government administrators for ADR to succeed.
“During the tour which in which we visited Nairobi Medium Prisons,Yatta Prisons,Kitui Main Prisons and Women Prisons and Machakos Main and Women Prisons we also met with the county security committee members because we cannot do this alone,”added the PS.
On tree planting the PS disclosed that the state department has already planted 1 million trees as part of the government’s ambitious initiative to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
“We are also setting aside 20 percent of the main farms in all prisons for forest cover.All offenders given non-custodial sentences will be required to plant trees in public institutions and take care of them until they finish the sentences,” added Ms Muthoni.
By Roselyne Kavoo
