Prisoners dramatise life in crime

By Kiundu Waweru

The prison walls look imposing, seemingly rising to the sky and skirted with barbed wire for security. As usual, the guests go through rigorous screening before entering the open yard. Inside, the inmates look calm and expectant, some can afford a smile as they seat hunched together.

Indeed, it is a special day for prisoners at the Nairobi Remand and Allocation Prison, a break from the routine. Their colleagues from Nairobi West Prison, Kamiti Prison and Langata Women’s Prison have joined them in a rare event.

The prisoners have congregated here for a drama festival dubbed Ongea, organised by Institute of Performing Artists Limited (IPAL) that at the end of the day leaves them in stitches and reflecting on their lives.

And when the show begins, the prisoners boldly re-enact life in prison and the events that led to their imprisonment.

"After staging a drama therapy at Langata Women’s Prison in 2005, we decided to have a similar event to involve more prisoners. It is a forum to unwind and to speak out," Ms Catherine Kariuki, the IPAL programmes leader says.

And speak out they do, depicting a life in crime, the harsh reality of prison, corrupt system, prisoners’ relationship with warders and people’s indifference towards ex-prisoners.

Nurturing criminals

They advice and let their ‘saintly’ guests know that anyone can land in prison as no one has reached Nirvana.

The first play is by Industrial Area Prison titled Matata High School. It shows that criminal behaviour is nurtured at a tender age in schools, which should fuel good deeds. A Form One student is initiated into a drug smoking ring and graduates to a mugger.

The students mug a parent who had come to pay school fees. The parent reports to the principal who summons his son to identify the culprits. But in a strange turn of events, it emerges the son has been selling bhang to the students.

Police are called in. Inspector Alfa from Kurekebisha na Haki Police Station blames the teachers as the principal attempts to pay a bribe in order to protect the school’s reputation.

"I do not take bribes, it is good you have given evidence to convict you. For parents, you have left children to the TV and Internet. Are you really parents or parrots?" he castigates them.

The second play by Nairobi West Prison, Iga Ufe, depicts poverty and low wages as the main cause of crime.

Kawau, an orphaned teenager is working at a construction site. When he asks for pay raise, the contractor dismisses him. Kawau pleads but he is unceremoniously kicked out. Without food and rent he is recruited by his friend Kauzi into crime. In a group of four, they raid a hardware store. Police bump into them and shoot two of their colleagues dead while Kawau and Kauzi are arrested. Kauzi, the mastermind, bribes his way out, and Kawau is sentenced to three years in prison. This brings out the message that only the small fish are jailed.

The winning play by Lang’ata Women’s Prison highlights stigma and the hardships ex-prisoners experience as they try to reintegrate into the society.

Ann, who had been jailed for 10 years, returns home reformed and educated. Unfortunately, her father chases her from home and no employer wants to take her. She becomes an outcast.

Height of hypocrisy

Mose, the village drunkard, gives her some money for food but instead she buys poison. As Ann writhes in pain, the villagers and parents who shunned her just surround her wailing. Mose, staggering and out of breath chases them away. "This is the height of hypocrisy. Why shed crocodile tears? You rejected her causing her to commit suicide," he yells.

She then turns to the audience and asks: "Anyone who is perfect, please raise your hand up?" The silence in the prison yard reverberates. Everyone is deep in thought.

Did you know you could live like a VIP in prison if you have money? Well, the last play, Block J, by Industrial Area Prison illustrates that.

In each prison block there is a prefect entrusted by the warden. The Kinara is a corrupt chap. The cells are grouped according to class. There is Stato, Muthaa and Mathare.

Stato and Muthaa are for the rich inmates while Mathare is foul and overcrowded and it is for the poor. While sleeping on the cold floor, inmates have to warn others before turning since there is no space.

At the end of the day, the audience, most of them visiting a prison for the first time, take home lessons on crime, prison life and the stigma that ex- convicts face.

The participants included remand prisoners as well as those convicted of capital offences.