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During the groundbreaking ceremony for a workshop within the prison, the First Lady encouraged the inmates with hope towards forging better decisions.
- Mama Rachel urged those responsible for women inmates to encourage them to learn income-generating skills.
Image: FLCS
First Lady Rachel Ruto celebrated International Women Day in Kisumu Women's Prison during a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of Chandaria Women Prison Workshop.
The construction of the workshop, which will be funded by Chandaria Foundation in conjunction with Mabati Rolling Mills, is aimed at teaching income-generating skills to the inmates at the prison.
Present during the launch were Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathew Ochieng Owili, State Department for Correctional Services PS Dr Salome Beacco, Commissioner General of Prisons Brigadier John Warioba and Priti Chandaria of Chandaria Foundation.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, the First Lady encouraged the inmates with hope towards forging better decisions.
"Being in prison is not an end in itself but can be a platform of finding new chapters of life that can change the lives of inmates and other people," Rachel said.
"This can be the place where these women's lives change for the better and I say this because I have seen transformation."
The groundbreaking ceremony was held alongside the International Women's Day celebrations at the prison precincts.
The First Lady emphasised the importance of inclusivity and empowerment of women in the society saying it has the ripple effect of changing entire communities.
"I'm asking all Kenyans to invest in the potential and well-being of women, knowing that their empowerment is a catalyst for progress in every sphere of life," she said.
"When a woman is empowered, she transforms her family and her community as well."
Mama Rachel urged those responsible for women inmates to encourage them to learn income-generating skills, some of which will be provided through this workshop once completed.
Rachel revealed that she began her journey by helping inmates in 2016 following a request from Langata Women's prison.
Since then, she said that her office started cross-stitch training in five women's prisons in Kenya including Nakuru, Shimo la Tewa, Kakamega, and Kitale Women’s prisons.
"The programme has benefited 1,200 women, with over 7,000 lives impacted indirectly. To date, over Sh25 million has been paid out to those who have made cross-stitch pieces," the First Lady said.
Priti Chandaria emphasised the importance of constructing such workshops within prisons.
"We have already built workshops in Langata, Meru and Shimo la Tewa Women's prisons. The purpose of these workshops is to give inmates opportunities to rebuild their lives," Chandaria said.
She also requested the First Lady to allow reformed inmates released on the International Women's Day to reconnect with their loved ones.