Plans to review prisons training mooted

By Wairimu Kamande

Prison warders will soon earn degrees and diplomas.

The Prisons Staff Training College, Ruiru, is consulting with public universities in search of an appropriate institutional affiliation.

Speaking when he presided over a passing-out parade yesterday, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said plans were under way to review the curriculum and training programmes to make them more relevant to the changing needs of the correctional service.

"The Kenya Prisons Service is facing new challenges in containing and reforming ‘new types’ of offenders such as pirates, cyber criminals, gang members and international drug traffickers," noted the VP.

As such, he challenged the Service to be versatile and apply modern and dynamic ways of rehabilitation.

Officers promoted

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka (right), who was the chief guest, and the Commissioner of Prisons Isaiah Osugo at the event. [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

The VP said his ministry, under which the Prisons Department lies, has established a legal and human rights unit to provide advice on programmes and activities intended to enhance respect for human rights in prisons.

In addition, he said, the unit will develop training curriculum in human rights and carry out training programmes at the college and the envisaged Probation Training Institute.

He also said plans were under way to construct a girls’ Borstal institution at Kamae, near Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.

The changes are expected to boost service delivery by the Prisons Department.

Yesterday’s ceremony saw 2,034 officers, who included recruits and serving officers, graduate from the college. The 230 serving officers were promoted to the rank of Chief Officer II.

The number of yesterday’s graduands is said to be the highest ever.