The day prison doors creaked open

BY ANTONY GITONGA

The high security walls, manned watchtowers and warders swaggering with long-range rifles, barking orders at all and sundry, is the intimidating face of Naivasha GK Maximum Security Prison.

But 100 visitors had a different experience recently when the prison doors creaked open and allowed them to spend one full day with their relatives, in what’s being hailed as a first for the institution.

The prison marked Prisoners’ Family Day – a first in Kenya – where families were allowed time with their relatives serving time there.

Inmates at Naivasha G.K prison go through their bibles with relatives.

One after the other, visitors were screened before being allowed in. As this went on, the queue got longer as more relatives, armed with all manner of foodstuffs arrived at the prison gates.

Food had to be scrutinised further to ensure what was allowed in was safe for consumption.

Anxiety was evident as the 2,800 inmates, a majority serving life sentences, prepared for the day. Heads craning, they checked if their relatives had arrived, calling to mind the anxieties that high school students display on a visiting day.

A warder loudly called out names of inmates whose relatives had arrived. Nervously, the inmates walked to the open ground where the relatives were waiting.

Drama GALORE

The field was turned into drama galore as husband and wives, fathers and children, mothers and sons reunited.

Grown men were reduced to tears as they came face to face with their loved ones. Tears of joy, and bitterness perhaps, were shed; prayers were recited as inmates and relatives came face to face.

Many inmates were tongue-tied, no doubt unable to express the events that led to their present circumstances.

Some of the convicts said they had not seen their close relatives for as many as ten years, and the scenes at the prison reflected shock and disbelief, regret and joy.

Most sought to be updated on news from home: who married whom, who had died, who had given birth.

Accustomed to bland porridge, ugali and vegetable soup, the inmates had a change of diet as they feasted on chicken, roast meat and other delicacies.

For some, it was the hours in the sun, and the fresh air, that was most cherished as their jail terms limit the hours spent in the open.

And from 9am to 5pm the talk, food, drink and laughter flowed before the visitors were ushered out and the inmates locked back in their cells.

　

It was song and dance for relatives who had travelled long distances met their loved ones, many of whom had been sentenced to death for murder or robbery with violence.

According to the officer in charge of the prison Patrick Mwenda, the visit was part of the prison reforms that emphasise openness and accountability.

Rehabilitate

"We have decided to use the family in our plans to rehabilitate the inmates and plan to continue with this exercise in the future," he said.

He said many inmates had given up hope of seeing their loved ones. He hoped such visits would change their attitude, Mwenda said, adding that they had planned to open the heavily guarded jail every two months for family visits.

Mwenda said inmates were receiving vocational training and a chance to advance their education free of charge.

"This is not the end of life, as one can learn and leave prison as an accountant or skilled artisan in various fields as we have seen," said Mwenda.

During the visit, Antony Mureithi who had served for six years before his release in 2001 on appeal, was invited to give a motivational speech.

"You have a chance to make it in life with the ongoing prison reforms," he encouraged, urging inmates to seize the opportunity and prove they were being rehabilitated.

Mureithi said he was framed and arrested in 1996 and charged with robbery and firearm possession, but truth prevailed.