Joy as Nakuru Women Prison receives first ever bed

Inmates at the Nakuru GK Women Prison sit on their new bed yesterday. Faraja Foundation donated 250 beds to the facility at a cost of Sh2 million. [Kennedy Gachuhi, Standard]

History was written today at the Nakuru GK Women Prison when the correctional facility received beds for the first time since it was established.

Winrose Chepng’etich, one of the inmates, was all smiles as she spread a bed for the first time since she was jailed seven years ago.

“I came here in 2012. Since then, I have never seen a bed. We have been sleeping on old mattresses laid on the floor but I am glad that tonight, I will have a bed to sleep on,” she said. 

The 250 beds worth Sh2 million were donated by Faraja Foundation.

They were received by Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Duncan Ogore, who is also the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner of Prisons.

Mr Ogore lauded the kind gesture, saying improved living conditions in prisons have turned them into correctional facilities.

"The environment in the prisons is slowly getting transformed,” said Ogore.

His sentiments were echoed by National Director of Offender Rehabilitation and Welfare Mary Khaemba who said that women need close attention for their health especially those living with their children at the facility.

“We are changing from punishment to humane approach of offenders with a view of changing them to better persons in the society. Human rights are now being respected in prisons. Women in correctional facilities need this care for their health,” said Ms Khaemba.

Senior Superintendent of Police Emily Momanyi in charge of the Nakuru Women Prison said that 35 women at the facility are having children and sleeping on the floors has been a major challenge especially during the cold season.

“This is great change for the facility and the benefits mostly are to the young children who have been living under harsh conditions. Their health is no longer at stake,” said Ms Momanyi.

She lauded the prisons department for the new open door policy that allows donors to support in improving the conditions of prisons in the country.

“Government procurement processes in some cases take a long time and some needs are to be met with urgency. It is through this policy that we have partners stepping in to transform the prisons for the better,” said Momanyi.

Faraja Foundation also donated a fully equipped container room that will serve as a counselling room for the inmates.

The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Jane Kuria said that the inmates need the services much due to sudden change of life and loss of freedom that may subject them to depression.

“Depression rate among Kenyans is on the rise and the inmates are not an exemption. Speaking to depressed inmates has been lying on the shoulders of the prisons officers. Due to lack of privacy the inmates have been undergoing depression with nowhere to run to,” said Kuria.