Inmates at Naivasha GK Prison exude confidence as KCSE starts

NAIVASHA, KENYA: Despite the harsh learning conditions, inmates at the Naivasha G.K prison have exuded confidence of performing well in this year's KCSE exams.

As the national exams kicked off on Tuesday, 18 inmates from the country's largest prison said that they were ready to surprise the nation through the exams.

Already four candidates from previous classes have joined various universities in the country after performing well while serving various terms in the prison.

And with the prison promising to consider reviewing the sentences of those students who perform well in the national exams, the inmates had a reason to work harder.

One of the inmates Bernard Wafula who is serving 12 years for defilement admitted that the learning conditions were not very conducive.

He was however optimistic that they could perform well noting that their teachers had prepared them well ahead of the exams.

"We have been waiting for this moment and through prayers and hard work we shall prove that inmates can also perform well in the national exams," he said.

According to the officer in charge of the prison Patrick Mwenda, there were 18 inmates seating for this year's exam an increase from 15 in the last year.

The officer said that one of the inmates was on death row, six on life while the others were serving long sentences.

"The oldest inmate is 46-year-old while the youngest is 20 years and we are confident that they shall perform well," he said.

Mwenda admitted that there are several challenges facing the students and identified lack of learning materials as the main one.

Elsewhere, a senior education official in Kwale County said there are not enough vehicles to transport the examination to remote areas.

The County's director of education Jumaa Mwatenga said two sub-counties of Matuga and Msambweni need an extra six vehicles to ferry the examination to all the schools.

The County has three sub-counties that also includes Kinango.

"We have a total of 78 secondary schools while those used as exam centers are 60 and the vehicles that we have at the moment are not enough, " said Mwatenga.

In an interview with the Standard he lamented that other departments have not assisted much.

Mwatenga noted that the departments were issuing tough procedures on their vehicles which the ministry could not meet.

"We raised our shortcomings to various departments but what they are telling us is not realistic. For example some want us to purchase new tyres, fuel them and even service when they themselves have not done so, “he added.