Inmates serving life sentences write papers behind bars

Inmate Peter Moru at Naivasha GK Prison all set for KCPE exams. March 3, 2022. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

A 62-year-old convict serving a life sentence is among candidates sitting the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.

David Kiplangat Tonui joined nine prisoners in Naivasha and Kericho who decided to return to school and sit the examinations as they continue serving their sentences.

“I opted to go back to school so that I can learn the basics of common law and be able to defend as well as launch my own appeals in court," said Tonui who is at the Kericho GK main prison. He was jailed for life after he was found guilty of murder.

At Naivasha, 20 candidates wrote the exams.

According to Prison Superintendent Kevin Muhoro, the inmates were well prepared for the national exams.

Peter Moru, who is serving a life sentence for defilement, said that they were looking forward to writing the exams.

“We have many challenges like lack of enough books and teachers but we are sure we can beat the odds,” said Moru who dropped out of school in class four.

In Nyeri, there were 17 inmates sitting their exams at the King'ong'o GK Prison.

One boy from Mukurwe-ini sub-county who was involved in a motorcycle accident was sitting his papers at the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital.

In Murang'a, three candidates were sitting their exams at the Murang'a Juvenile Centre.

State Department for Implementation of Curriculum Reforms' Principal Secretary Prof Fatuma Chege said 17 inmates were sitting KCPE at King'ong'o Prison. 

Kakamega main prison had 22 candidates.

The prison officer in charge Mr Japheth Onjiri said that they had done all within their means to prepare the candidates for the exams.

And four pupils from Kakamega Borstal institute sat their day one paper at Shikusa Primary school.

Report by Anthony Gitonga, Boniface Gikandi, Ndungu Gachane and Robert Amalemba