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Faraja Foundation has donated 2,168 beds to women prisons across the country.

The beds were donated through a project that was initiated in May to have women offenders lead decent lives at  correctional facilities.

Faraja Foundation executive officer Jane Kuria, who spoke at the Bomet GK Prison during the official closure of the project, said their main objective was to ensure all correctional facilities are equipped with beds to reduce the risk of ailments such as pneumonia.

“Cases where convicts contract diseases just because they lack the basic bedding facilities are now a thing of the past,” she stated. Chairman David Bett said they will soon launch a programme aimed at reintegrating ex-convicts back into the society.

He said prisoners, especially women and young girls, are vulnerable and require special support. With their interventions they are now assured of good health conditions.

Rift Valley Prisons Regional Commandant Aggrey Onyango said the Kenya Prisons Service will continue welcoming all donors and partners willing to offer support to its correctional facilities.

While commending the various Non-Governmental Organisations for the goodwill support it has continued to offer, Onyango pointed out that through such interventions, the service has managed to surmount some of the challenges they have been encountering.

Private duty

He noted that the support being offered was not a private duty but that which should involve all stakeholders hence the need for the close collaboration.

“This is not an individual business but the society’s at large. That is why we encourage all stakeholders and partners to come on board and help us in molding these detainees,” said Onyango.

He disclosed that the service was in the process of forming a committee to guide and determine the kind of support required by particular prisons.