• Winnie Guchu, Interior CAS, said a majority of female prisons lack sleeping spaces for children and functional day-care centres.
• She said of the 43 facilities, about 10 have daycare centres and nurseries.
Image: FILE
Children of incarcerated mothers will soon have an improved quality of life following the launch of a Prisons Childcare Policy.
The policy, launched by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i last week, offers guidance to the Kenya Prisons Service to provide quality care for children of imprisoned mothers.
During the launch at the Prisons Staff Training College in Ruiru, CS Matiang’i said the policy prioritises the growth and development of children aged zero to four years.
He said the policy has provisions for standard Early Childhood Development Education for the children.
“The policy will address shortcomings to give children accompanying imprisoned mothers, equal opportunities as those in normal learning institutions,” he said.
He said it was vital for the responsible state departments in the Ministries of Interior and Education to partner to make the policy a success.
Last year, the Africa Early Childhood Network did a study on the welfare of children in women’s prisons.
They found that more than 200 children aged four and below are living in prison having been born there or were too young to be separated from their mothers serving sentences.
“Kenyan prisons face a myriad of challenges including insufficient funds to provide clothing, medication, food and bedding,” the study showed.
Winnie Guchu, Interior Chief Administrative Secretary, said at a past event that the majority of female penal facilities lack sleeping spaces for children, functional day-care centres and pre-primary education facilities.
“In fact, of 43 facilities, about 10 have daycare centres and nurseries, those without have seen women become innovative for the sake of the children,” she said.
A study by Clean Start Kenya also found that inadequate nutrition for breastfeeding mothers behind bars pauses health risks to their babies.
“Prison meals lack adequate nutritional value for exclusive breastfeeding until a child turns one year old,” they said.
“Malnutrition contributes to 45 per cent of all under-five children deaths while poor breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices contribute to 19 per cent of the deaths according to the Ministry of Health."
According to the Kenya Prisons Service, mothers are permitted to have their children till they reach four years and then they are to be integrated back into the community.
AfCEN sponsored the development of the Childcare Policy and recommended the lowering of the statutory age when the children can leave prison so they can have better nurturing outside prison.
“There should be child-friendly psychosocial support with a trauma-focused approach when dealing with the children for example giving them art and play therapy to assist with adjusting to prison," AfCEN said.
“The children should also enjoy a social life, including celebrating birthdays and family reunions in the prisons."
(Edited by Tabnacha O)