Freed from sins, inmates yearn for other freedom

By Winsley Masese

They looked resplendent in black and green graduation gowns, complete with hoods, and would pass for ordinary college graduands.

The robes made them splendid on their day of "academic honours". But the excited ‘graduands’ were actually convicts at Kibos Prison in Kisumu.

An inmate, Obedi Mgeni preaches to colleagues at Kibos Prison, Kisumu, recently. Photo: Jonah Onyango/Standard

The Reverend Tobias Odipo of AFCM says the 43 convicts at Kibos took one year to complete the diploma course.

Otieno says he will appeal the sentence and if he succeeds, he would serve God by preaching.

"I hope one day I would be free and my first mission would be to serve God," he says.

Otieno is married and has two sons, aged 15 and 13.

Newton Ombewa, 28, also on death row, says: "I am ‘on death sentence’ but I am a free man in the spirit of God."

Alluding to the suffering Jesus Christ underwent, Ombewa says the training has changed his life.

"I am like a donkey burdened by the world’s trials. If I were to be given an opportunity to get out of this prison, I would preach to the rest of the world that God saves," he says.

But what landed him in prison?

"I used to hang around with a bad group, which was involved in a robbery with violence. When the police were tracing the gang, I was caught in the mix," he says.

Ombewa appeals to the society to welcome former convicts and help them begin life afresh, especially those who have reformed.

"I am a new creature in the name of God and would strive to lead an honest life if I am set free," he says.

Free man

Ombewa believes despite being behind bars, he is a free man since the Almighty has forgiven him.

He hails from Vihiga and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006, then put on death row.

He was engaged, but he later learned his fiancÈe got married to another man.

"My only family includes my father, mother and now Jesus Christ," he says.

Kibos Prison has four heavily guarded gates, but for most of the 43 convicts, they believe they have overcome the perimeter wall, spiritually.

Their peculiar freedom was visible as they mingled and posed for photos with relatives and friends.

Odipo says: "We want the convicts to interact positively with prison authorities and eventually the society."

He stresses the need for them to learn the value of leading a responsible life and relating with the other members of the community.

He says the Prison Chaplain vets those chosen for the course. "The interested candidates must prove their dedication to serve," says Odipo.

He says for an inmate to enroll for the diploma course, there must be a proven record of a desire to serve God.

"The prison chaplain takes them through a rigorous process to prove a strong conviction to the word of God," Odipo explains.

He says the course involves going to class for two hours for a fortnight.

"We conduct classes on Saturday and most of the students are co-operative," he says.

Nyanza Province Prisons Officer Amos Misik says the training is one way of rehabilitating the prisoners.

"It will help most of them be better persons in prison and in the free world once they are released," Misik says.

Prison reforms

In the past few years, the Government has undertaken major reforms in prisons.

The Kenya Prisons Service Charter and Strategic Plan, 2005-2009, sets out a five-year plan to change the face of prisons.

The ambitious plan introduced by former Vice-President Moody Awori will cost Sh70 billion.