Principal Secretary (PS) Correctional Services Ambassador Richard Ekai. [Photo|mygov.go.ke]
The Principal Secretary (PS) Correctional Services Ambassador Richard Ekai has embarked on a tour of correctional facilities in the country as he seeks to fast-track the modernization efforts for the department of correctional services.
Ekai visited the Shimo La Tewa maximum security prison and the Shimo la Tewa Borstal Institution in Mombasa to get a first-hand orientation to the challenges facing the correctional facilities.
He was accompanied by Prisons Commissioner-General Isaiah Osugo and the Director of Administrations Claire Omolo among other senior prison officers.
“The government is focused on implementing more rehabilitation programs for inmates something that is critical in transforming their lives. I would like to see a situation where when one leaves a prison setting, they are able to contribute positively to the society the moment they are out there.” PS Ekai said.
The Borstal centre in Mombasa receives youthful offenders from Coast, North Eastern, Eastern, Rift Valley and Central regions and is administered by the correctional services department.
The Borstal institutions in Mombasa, Nairobi and Kakamega counties hold boys from age 15 to 18 for a maximum of three years irrespective of the gravity of the offence.
At the Borstal institution which currently hosts 321 juvenile delinquents, the PS said he was impressed by the vocational and life skills training programs offered at the centre.
“I was in Kakamega County recently touring the Shikusa Borstal institution and today I am here and a final tour will culminate at Kamiti maximum security prison in Nairobi.” He added.
The PS asked Kenyans to integrate the hitherto young offenders leaving Borstal institutions back into the society as they have acquired training in various levels of carpentry, tailoring, mechanic and other skills which will be of benefit to the society.