Once a teacher, always a teacher is a statement that best describes Mr Lazarus Omondi.
Omondi is a trained primary school teacher who teaches his fellow inmates at the Kodiaga Maximum Security Prison in Kisumu.
The teacher, who is a native of Jera in Siaya County, was arrested and convicted in May, last year.
Otieno was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of defilement. He, however, maintains his innocence.
“It is tough in here, but there’s nothing we can do. I am hoping that my appeal will be successful,” he said.
Before being convicted, the father of two had taught in primary school for 13 years.
His last job was at Uhola Primary School in Siaya County, where he taught Science, Social Studies and drama.
“When I was sentenced in May last year, I introduced myself as a teacher. I came to the welfare office, wrote an application letter, got interviewed and I was taken in as a teacher at the Kisumu Maximum Security Prison Primary School. The school is known as Rekebisho Primary School,” said Omondi.
Omondi says he attends to more than 100 students on a daily basis.
“Last year, the first pupil in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) got 335 marks. This year, we are confident the first candidate will get over 400 marks,” he said.
Unlike other teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Omondi does not earn a salary at the end of the month by virtue of being a prisoner.
“My share of food is different from other prisoners. Most of the prison officers respect me because of my background as a teacher,” he said when asked of some of the privileges he enjoys at the institution.
#jobprofiles