Inmates get rare chance to meet their loved ones

By MERCY KAHENDA

Nakuru, Kenya: Easter holiday came early for inmates at Nakuru Women’s GK Prison after they got a rare opportunity to interact with their kin and friends.

The event organised by prison administration and well-wishers was one of its kind as the 112 inmates shared warm embraces and chatted freely with their loved ones.

Rachael Wairimu, who is serving time for murder, was excited to be reunited with her two children whom she had not met for quite some time.

Wairimu could not hold back tears as she embraced the two, who are now married.“My younger son was 19 years when I started serving my sentence in 2007, but is  now 25. He is with his wife and a child. God is great,” said Wairimu, carrying her grandson.

ESTRANGED’ MOTHER

Carolyn Njoki, her daughter, was also beside herself with excitement to talk to her mother without a prison officer standing over her.

“I cannot believe I am sitting next to my mother. Whenever I visit the facility, I only talk to her through a window,” said Njoki, fondly staring into her mother’s eyes.

For Carolyn Chepchumba, 26, the two years she has been away seemed to have estranged her from her three-year-old son, who did not seem to recognise her. The last time the two were together was in  November 2012 when he was one-and-a-half-years-old.

“I am so happy to see my son after such a long time. The last time we were together, he was just a toddler and had not even learnt to communicate,” said Chepchumba, carrying him.

Rosemary Vugutsa, who is serving a five-year jail term could not believe that her daughter,  who was 10- months-old when they were separated, had grown so big.

Her daughter, Joy Dzame, who is now two years old, did not seem to remember her as she appeared drawn more to her elder sister who had accompanied her to the facility.

 Vugutsa is serving the jail term after she was found guilty of assaulting her boyfriend’s lover.

“I have never had an opportunity to meet my daughter and members of my family since I was imprisoned two year ago,” said Vugutsa.

Another inmate, Phanice Chericho, 28, from Kipkelion, was happy to meet her elderly mother Grace Chebochock, and the two chatted endlessly.

Chericho, a mother of two, was imprisoned for two years for assault. “I usually get depressed when I think about my daughter and sometimes I even imagine that she may have died without my knowledge,” said Chebochock, her face beaming with excitement.

Rosemary Njenga, the officer in charge of Nakuru Women Prison said the family re-union programme was part of the ongoing prison reforms.

PREVENT STIGMA

Njenga said in the programme, reintegration of inmates into the society begins at prisons. “This is part of society integration to prevent the stigma prisoners face after serving prison terms,” said Njenga.

According to her, the programme should be embraced in all women prisons to enable the inmates meet with family members and bond.

“Women play a very big role in the growth and development of their children and those serving jail terms should be allowed to meet them from time to time,” she said.

There are a total of 176 prisoners at the facility.