STATE DEPARTMENT FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES KICKS OFF REGISTRATION OF INMATES WITH DISABILITIES

By Vallentine Mmbone and Leah Chitiavi

The State Department for Correctional Services has partnered with the National Council for Persons with disabilities to register inmates with disabilities in a targeted campaign that will ensure every eligible inmate is officially recorded and issued with a Disability Registration Number (DRN).

The exercise, which kicked off on Tuesday at the Nairobi Remand and Allocation Maximum Security Prison, is meant to ensure those registered access rights, benefits, and support, including assistive devices and specialized care as well as establish credible and accurate evidence-based data on inmates to enable medical observation and identification of inmates requiring urgent interventions besides  promoting awareness and sensitization within custodial settings. 

The launch of the exercise, which was attended by senior officers from both the State Department for Correctional Services and the National Council for Persons with disabilities, saw at least 200 people registered.

According to members of the disability mainstreaming committee of the department, which is leading the campaign dubbed Recognized, Respected, Restored, the latest development opens the door to essential benefits, appropriate care, accommodation and access to assistive devices, and more importantly tailored rehabilitation programs; support that continues beyond prison walls to ease their reintegration into society.

The registration was borne out of the realization that many inmates with disabilities remain unregistered with the National Council of Persons with Disability leaving their unique needs unmet.

By linking correctional facilities with the Disability Council, the initiative is expected to bridge the gap between incarceration and inclusion; ensuring the needs of inmates with disabilities are formally acknowledged, and ensure service with dignity, compassion, equity and humanity.