Officer-In-charge of Naivasha Prisons Patrick Mwenda has appealed to the judiciary to consider alternatives for mothers who have small babies in prisons. Mwenda said that the judiciary should look into the welfare of children who are locked behind bars. “The judiciary should be more involved. There are other alternatives to locking small children behind bars, the officer said on Tuesday. "They should consider an ‘outside sentence’ and probation. Only in very extreme cases should they make the child stay in prison,” he added. Mwenda said that the children were losing their childhood behind bars for crimes they were not aware of. “The children should be removed from behind bars. It is not the right atmosphere and the children are suffering for mistakes they did not commit. Before the government decides to put a lactating woman behind bars they should have considered all other options." Mwenda revealed that there were already 20 children in the Naivasha prison. “They also need to go to school and interact with the other children. They should not have their lives interfered with,” he added. Naivasha chief magistrate Stephen Githinji promised to review the sentences of women with infants and toddlers. Githinji promised to work with the Court Users Association to look into other alternatives when issuing jail terms. “We intend to look after the children and ensure that they are really growing normally,” he added. They were speaking during the launch of the Barber Unit in the Naivasha Medium Prison. The unit will train inmates on basic skills in shaving and will help them seek employment after they are released.

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