A group of 25 female inmates at Wundanyi Women Prison in Taita Taveta County have completed a Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) programme, acquiring life and business skills that will aid their reintegration into society.
Through a partnership with Nafisika Trust and local community members, the inmates earned certificates in various skills, including tailoring, event planning, hairdressing, and soap making.
Officer in-charge at Wundanyi Prison Jostinah Mwang'ombe said the training was part of rehabilitation programmes aimed at reforming prisoners for social reintegration and changing society's perception of prisons.
"One thing that cuts across those that are brought here is lack of economic empowerment. We decided to give them skills and knowledge to help them resettle once they come out," she said.
Ms Mwang'ombe added that the correctional facilities are not punitive centres for criminals, but rather a place to reform, rehabilitate, and make them good citizens.
"It is, therefore, our responsibility to rehabilitate the inmates as they serve their sentence. The skills aim to equip them to be able to run the business once they are released from prison so that they don't become a burden to society or go back to crime," she said.
Ex-prisoner Mariam Mwikali, who was released last month, said she plans to use her skills to start a business in her home in Taveta, hoping to minimize stigma in the village.
Nafisika Trust has worked with the State Department of Correctional Services in various prisons across the country for 13 years, and their chief executive officer Rose Thuku said they will support some inmates to start their businesses once they come out of prison.
"We aim to empower the inmates, for them to understand the market trends so that they can sell their products. The skill-building is to fully equip them all round for the life ahead," she said.
