Prisoners release gospel CD

The faces of the over 2,000 remandees brightened as their colleagues belted out songs to launch a gospel music compact disc at a Nairobi prison.

They patiently sat under the scorching sun and hummed along with some dancing to the songs as the St Cecilia Prison Choir sang tunes from their debut CD, Sauti za Wafungwa (Voices of Prisoners).

The bright faces of the choir members were full of hope despite their pending cases which could see some of them being sent to the gallows or remain in jail for life.

The choir members are facing charges ranging from murder, robbery with violence, rape, defilement and even manslaughter.

But the worries of these inmates at Nairobi Remand and Allocation Prison in Industrial area are temporarily forgotten as they launch this CD, which is a major milestone for prisoners.

Justus Mutia, a member of the choir who is facing murder charges says: "The songs are about life and how God loves mankind. The production has changed our lives."

The members of the group had different reasons for joining the choir.

"I joined the choir to mark a new beginning in my life within prison as my murder trial progresses at the High Court," Mutia says.

Micah Maina (in black shirt), a music composer, leads remandees who are members of the Nairobi Remand and Allocation Prison Gospel Choir during the launch of their gospel music CD at the prison. Photos: Evans Habil/Standard

"We have come a long way since April, last year, when we formed the group and resolved to produce gospel music," Githinji says.

He recalls how they spent months rehearsing as the wheels of justice moved slowly.

They spent several hours every day refining their voices, which was an enjoyable past time as they waited for their trials. Most of them, he says, have been adjourned for several times for various reasons.

"Singing was the best way to relieve stress while hoping the cases would be hastened," Githinji says.

Mutia, who is aware that his trial may last long like most murder cases do, believes the music has changed his life.

"I am different from the person I was when I was charged with murder last year. Music has made me rethink about my life," Mutia says.

The singers underwent challenges to ensure they passed their message through music.

They recalled how rehearsals were interrupted several times as members went to court for mention or hearing of their cases.

Robert Lawasa who is charged with attempting to commit a felony says there were times when they practised in the cells as other remandees slept.

"We occasionally rehearsed in whispers not to awake our colleagues or attract the attention of the warders," Lawasa recalls.

Githinji says there were occasions when some members were so depressed to the extent of missing rehearsals.

"We had to console our colleagues when their murder trials in the High Court took a twist they never expected," Githinji says.

There were also occasions when their dependable vocalists fell ill especially during chilly weather and developed flu.

"We thank the prison authorities for providing medication to those who suffered throat infections," he says.

Githinji says discipline and hard work were among the virtues that saw them through.

"We resolved to strictly follow rules and regulations of the prison to get favours like more time for rehearsals," Githinji explains.

The songs were composed by Micah Maina, an artiste who is not an inmate while keyboard was played by Wilfred Mogire who is also not an inmate.

Maina recalls the excitement from the members’ as they went to the recording studio.

"They sang all the way to Radio Waumini studio where the CD was recorded within a day, late last year," Maina says.

The prison authorities wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Prisons asking for permission and armed escort to the studio.

Maina says he auditioned over 1,500 remandees.

"Most of them wanted to be part of the production team but we could only pick 30 of them," Maina says.

Effective reforms

The singers were clustered into groups depending on their voices and then trained on vocals.

Maina says that the release of some suspects who were members of the choir was a challenge.

"We had to pick others to train when some were released," Maina recalls.

Senior Deputy Commissioner of Prisons George Macgoye who presided over the launch of the production says the prisons department is proud of the production and now wants other partners to assist.

"We encourage the private sector to help reform suspects and inmates," Macgoye says.

The officer in charge of Nairobi Remand and Allocation Prison Pauline Wanja Ngara says: "Being in remand does not stop inmates from chasing dreams and exploiting talents to become better persons."

Ngara says they allowed prisoners more time for rehearsals to keep them out of mischief.

"They have a lot of time in their hands awaiting trials. The opportunity to make use of their talents kept them occupied," Ngara says.

She says the facility will market the CD that was being sold at Sh150 during the launch.

"We intend to use proceeds from the sales to purchase musical instruments for the choir in a bid to broaden their scope," Ngara says.

Father Roderic Crowley of the Catholic Church supported the initiative to the tune of Sh200,000. The Church presented the choir with a modern keyboard to encourage them to produce more tracks.

"These are our children and undergoing criminal trials does not make them lesser humans. Let us help them be better people," Fr Crowley urges.

Moses Ekombe, an officer at the facility says they gave the choir members extra food to motivate them.

"We realised they worked harder spending over eight hours a day in rehearsals and needed more energy," Ekombe says.

According to the officer, the choir members are among the most disciplined inmates at the facility.