PRISONNERS ON DEATHROW JOIN LEARNING PROGRAM

Five hundred death row prisoners have joined the Naivasha GK Prison learning programme that is part of reforms in the penal department.
Education has become key to reforming prisoners, Reform facility officer in charge Patrick Mwendwa noted, adding the programme has at least 1,500 members.
“For years death row inmates have not been allowed to work or join any learning programme but we have decided to change this,” Mwendwa said.
He spoke at the prison on Sunday after hosting visitors who promised that volunteering teacher-inmates would undergo formal training.
Mwendwa welcomed the training saying it would improve the standard of education at the facility and improve 87 instructors' teaching skills.
Mt Kenya University quality assurance director Peter Wanderi said ways to implementing the programme were being sought.
Wanderi said he would urge academics to offer in service training to teacher-inmates before ways of offering structured training through an established curriculum are established.
“I am impressed by the inmates' ability to teach but they still require basic training that will enable them discharge their teaching duties effectively,” he said.
Wanderi congratulated the institution on top performers, noting this was despite the lack of teaching materials and qualified personnel.
He was in the company of Germany-based Jane Muchiri-Marquard who has, since 2014, donated Sh300,000 for the education programme.
Muchiri-Marquard praised the reforms that include the introduction of formal education.
She said the annual donation was made in partnership with well-wishers keen on supporting the education programme.
Volunteer Esther Wagaki said she would introduce an e-mentoring programme to enable prisoners share ideologies.
“We have realised some of them have composed songs and produced documentaries which they can market online,” she said.