By Margaret Wanjiru Theuri
Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matian'gi presides over the launch of the Childcare policy and the unveiling of the RRI phase I report at the Prisons Staff Training College, Ruiru. Photo: Cullen Wasike
The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i presided over the launch of the Childcare policy for the care of children of incarcerated mothers.
On the same occasion, he also graced the unveiling of the Rapid Results Initiative phase 1 which took place on Wednesday 27th July 2022 at the Prisons Staff Training College, Ruiru.
The Rapid Results Initiative is a program that took 100 days from 25th January 2022 to 6th July 2022 guided by five thematic areas which are improved operations and service delivery, enhancing the welfare of staff and inmates, fast-tracking implementation of development projects, strengthening collaboration with stakeholders and development partners and revamping the prison enterprise.
This program has seen tremendous changes in the different correctional facilities around the country.
Speaking during the event, the CS applauded the impact the RRI has had since it was launched.
“The list of achievements is long. There has been the promotion of some officers who had stagnated in the same position for a long time,” he said.
The Childcare Policy which he launched at the same event which was sponsored by Africa Early Childhood Network (AfECN), aims at offering guidance to the Kenya Prisons Service management and other stakeholders to provide quality care for children of incarcerated mothers including children of 0-4 years.
The implementation of the policy is linked to other national policy guidelines including the Sessional paper No.1 of 2005 from the education sector which touches on the policy framework for education that recommended the development of a comprehensive ECD framework and Service Standard Guidelines.
The CS insisted on the importance of partnering with the Ministry of Education so that emphasis can be given to education in correctional facilities.
“Now is the time to deepen relationships between the Ministry of Interior, the State Department, and the Education Ministry,” he said.
State Department for Correctional Services Principal Secretary, Hon. Safina Kwekwe Tsungu said, in correctional facilities, the number of inmates giving priority to education has increased.
She also added that she looks forward to the launch of the RRI phase II to kick off after the completion of phase I.
During the event, four new tractors and two Lorries were also flagged off by the CS to start working in the prison farms in support of one of the main areas of the RRI program that is revamping the prison farms.