Garissa Women’s Prison calls for vocational training support for inmates
The female inmates marked the Women’s Week celebrations with traditional dances and songs.
Mwana Hamisi Kamora, in charge of the Garissa Main Women Prison, on Friday called upon non-governmental organisations and well-wishers to empower female inmates with skills that can help them reintegrate into society after their release.
Speaking at Garissa Women’s Prison Camp, where the Kenya Red Cross was celebrating International Women’s Week with female inmates, Kamora said that the facility lacked the necessary vocational training capacity to support inmates willing to learn technical skills.
"We have officers with various skills. Recently, one of our officers graduated with pastry and bakery training after receiving sponsorship, but we cannot extend the training to female inmates due to a lack of necessary facilities," she said.
She called for donations of tailoring machines, hair salon equipment, baking machines, and other tools to equip inmates with essential skills during their rehabilitation and correctional services.
Kamora thanked the Kenya Red Cross for its ongoing support, including counselling, tracing, telephone services, and the provision of menstrual pads for female prisoners to promote hygiene.
"These people left their loved ones back home and are counting the days until they can reintegrate into society. They need a lot of counselling for the sake of their mental well-being," said Kamora.
Mwana Hamisi Kamora, in charge of the Garissa Main Women's Prison, receiving a donation from Kenya Red Cross Northeastern regional coordinator Hassan Musa. (Photo: Issa Hussein)
The female inmates marked the Women’s Week celebrations with traditional dances and songs.
The Kenya Red Cross North-Eastern Regional Coordinator, Hassan Musa, assured the female inmates that the organisation would play a key role in empowering them with essential skills.
"Providing them with the necessary skills will help ensure a sustainable livelihood once they are released from prison. It is important for them to reintegrate into society as rehabilitated individuals with self-sufficiency skills," he said.
He noted that the global Women’s Week celebrations coincided with the Kenya Red Cross' commemoration of 60 years of humanitarian service in the country.
Kenya Red Cross donating sanitary pads and other items to the inmates. (Issa Hussein)
Musa urged the inmates to remain focused on reforming and to support the development of peer counselling among themselves.
Other Red Cross officials, led by Garissa Branch Coordinator Daud Ahmed, offered words of encouragement to the female inmates during the event.
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