State Department for Correctional Services fetes its officers

By Vincent Munga

State Department for Correctional Services has ended its third edition of the Correctional Service Week by awarding institutions and individuals for their exemplary service.

‎‎The three-day engagement, themed “Efficient Service Delivery for the Common Good,” reflected on progress, innovations, and challenges in promoting justice, rehabilitation, and public safety across correctional facilities.

‎Thika Main Prison Officer In-charge and Kiambu County Commander Hassan Waqo CP, who emerged the best overall prison officer for the award of Leveraging on Technology and innovations by establishing a law school for inmates at the institution, said the move has changed the lives of inmates who have enrolled in online courses and at least five have graduated and qualified to be lawyers.

‎‎”In partnership with renowned universities, our inmates can now learn to become better citizens. I’m glad that through this initiative, Thika Main Prison has won national and international court moot competitions against Ivy league University, the London school of economics,” he said after receiving his award.

‎Chida Phyllis Wafula SSP, officer in charge of Kapsabet Women Prison that largely houses women offenders from Nandi county and it’s environs credits tailoring, agribusiness and mentoring courses she has introduced in the institution as the enabler of the institution being named best in offender rehab and reintegration.

‎”Our institution has not experienced congestion simply because we don’t have many women offenders in the rural areas. This gives me ample time to talk to each offender in person and give them motherly advice. This, coupled with the skill they learn before leaving our facility, transforms them to serve their community in a better way,” she said.

‎Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen urged stakeholders in the correctional services sector to sustain efforts toward reforms aimed at improving efficiency, professionalism, and humane treatment within Kenya’s correctional system.

‎‎”I commend the leadership and officers of our Correctional Services for transforming lives through reform, training, and reintegration programmes that strengthen national security and social cohesion,” he said.

‎‎During the ceremony, 22 individuals and 24 correctional facilities were recognized.