Prisoners who sit for National Industrial Training Institute (NITA) exams will soon be able to receive certificates from the institution, as the state works to clear debts that have previously blocked the issuance of these certificates. Correctional Services PS Salome Beacco announced on Wednesday that they are nearing the completion of debt payments owed to NITA.
Speaking at Kamiti Maximum Prison during the receipt of donations from Accept International, a Japanese NGO, Beacco said they are collaborating with the Department of Industry to ensure every inmate will receive certificates from NITA.
The PS highlighted that these certificates will help inmates find employment and support themselves and their families once they are released from jail.
“We want them to get certificates so that when they come out and build themselves, you can be entrepreneurs because that is the essence of Kenya Kwanza government that everybody must be able to stand on their own two feet and get an income,” the PS said.
She said their mandate is to ensure their clients are reformed, rehabilitated and are properly integrated back into society.
The PS said they want to increase the number of workshops, equipments inside prisons and have requisitioned more equipment for rehabilitation.
“I urge you to embrace the technical training as we are adding more equipment and workshops so that you can continue to train to the various technical courses that we are offering inside prisons,” she said.
Beacco said they have introduced a Redmap organisation who will offer training in leather works so that they can start producing leather products.
In collaboration with the Director of Industries, PS Salome Beacco announced plans to install a cabro making machine in prisons for producing paving blocks and expanding vocational training opportunities. She also mentioned that through the affordable housing project, the department has initiated the construction of decent housing for prison officers and officials.
Accept International’s country director, Hassan Abdikadir, explained that their mandate is to rehabilitate terror extremists and young people at risk of radicalization. “We help them by providing education, awareness, and the necessary support to prevent them from joining radical groups,” he said.
Accept International has implemented projects worth Sh2 million each at Kamiti Maximum Prison and Shimo la Tewa Prison.
These projects include the construction of counseling rooms, renovation of vocational training rooms, utilization of constructed counseling facilities for care counseling, training of trainers for prisons and probation officers, provision of vocational training tools, improvement of sanitation and sewerage, and installation of CCTV cameras to enhance prison security.
