Reintegrate ex-convicts to society, prisons boss tells public

The State Department of Correctional Services has urged the public not to abandon and stigmatise their convicted relatives.

Commissioner General of Prison Wycliffe Ogallo said the public should not discriminate ex-convicts but help them reconnect with their families once they are set free.

"I call upon the society to forgive the ex-prisoners and be ready to receive them back after serving their sentences," he said.

His sentiments come amid the rising cases of ex-convicts being rejected by the community and relatives once they are out.

Some are permanently being branded as criminals forcing them into depression while others go back to committing crime.

Ogallo said it is not by choice that people find themselves in prisons noting that anyone can fall a victim.

The officer said some prisoners can be wrongly accused and charged and get trapped behind bars forever.

"People must understand that sometimes things happen and people find themselves in prisons because they couldn't prove their innocence," he said.

Ogallo said the ex-convicts belong to the community and must be treated equally regardless of the crimes they once committed because they have rights.

He said being in prison is enough punishment, adding that the convicts have paid dearly for their wrongdoings, and proved to be remorseful.

The officer called on the residents to help the government in rehabilitating and improving the lives of prisoners once they have left the correctional facilities. 

He said the government is providing them with various job skills while in jail for a smooth transition when they complete their time.

"They are being trained under a special programme introduced by the government to offer convicts with technical skills to support them after leaving correctional facilities and rejoin society.

Ogalo spoke in Kwale while inspecting the readiness of the county prisons amid the nationwide resumption of prison visits.

Kwale prisons reopened their doors for visits last week after a long break following the ban on prison visits.

The ban was imposed last year by the government to mitigate the spread of Covid-19.

Ogalo assured that the prisons are well prepared and ready to receive guests visiting their convicted relatives.

"We value both the lives of our officers, inmates and people accessing these facilities. It is for this reason that we have taken necessary measures in complying with the public health directives and to be safe," he said.

Ogalo said in Kwale, at least 90 per cent of prisoners and prison officers have been vaccinated, and process to vaccinate the remaining lot is ongoing.

He encouraged the public to go for the Covid jabs to ensure maximum safety and win the war against the pandemic.

Ogallo said the government is working on rehabilitating and upgrading prisons.

He said they are improving the infrastructure of the prisons and equipping them to accommodate the rising number of inmates.

"As you are aware, some of the prisons were constructed a long time ago when crime was low, but now things have changed and the courts are working hence the need to expand our facilities," he said.

He added that the correction department services has introduced counselling programmes for the inmates and officers to prevent them from mental illness.

The country has witnessed some cases of officers committing crimes because of stress and other mental issues.

County prison warden Hassan Ali said the correctional department has done its best in ensuring inmates get in touch with relatives during the Covid period.

He said to alleviate cases of severe stress, the prison department launched customer care mobile services to help inmates keep in touch with their relatives. 

Ali urged the public to comply with Health ministry Covid regulations as they visit their relatives in prisons.

-Edited by SKanyara