Children in various correctional facilities in Kiambu Sub County are being equipped with vocational skills to make them self-reliant once they are released back.
According to the County Children’s Coordinator, Mong’are Mwambi, the children require skills that will help them generate an income after their rehabilitation.
He adds that these institutions not only aim at changing behaviour but also making an individual contribute positively to society by independently sustaining themselves and supporting their families.
To achieve this, the government-run facilities have officers who train children in beadwork, dress making, bakery, soap making and hairdressing.
“These skills are preferred because the facility rehab in this sub county is for girls,” explained Mwambi.
He stated that these skills are aimed at making the children set up businesses after rehab or get employed in related fields. Noting that most of them are usually stereotyped by some employers, the training enables them to start personal ventures.
“Society judges them harshly and employers may not trust a child who was prosecuted,” said Mwambi, urging that more trust is put in the system which totally changes a child.
In Kirigiti Girls’ Reception and Rehabilitation School, the children are also enrolled in formal education at primary school level. Trained teachers take them through normal Kenyan syllabus and when good grades are attained, the government sponsors them through secondary school and even college.
Lenah Sitati, Manager at Kiambu Children Remand Home said that those with ongoing court cases are enrolled into formal education because their stay in the home may be temporary.
“Before a judgment is passed, their stay here is not permanent hence they should not be mentally destabilised with all the changes,” she says.
Instead of the 8-4-4 syllabus, they are taken through general educational programmes like health.
Sitati says this helps keep them busy and constructive at the same time.