14 CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS SET TO BENEFIT FROM DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMME
By Nicholas Kigondu
The State Department for Correctional Services is leveraging partnerships to boost digital literacy within the correctional system as part of rehabilitation and reformation of offenders.
Speaking during a meeting with the founder and Chief executive officer of Close the Gap Kenya Olivier Vandem and Tech Kids Africa Executive Director Paul Akwabi, Principal Secretary Dr. Salome Beacco said digital literacy remains a critical component of rehabilitation, designed to prepare reformed offenders in adopting with the ever-changing technology landscape upon release.
Through the support of Close the Gap Kenya and Tech Kids Africa, the State Department for Correctional Services will offer a three-months training programme for incarcerated individual in select facilities, geared towards equipping both offenders and staff with critical digital skills.
According to the PS, providing digital skills to reformed offenders is essential in reducing recidivism and ensuring successful reentry of the reformed offenders back to society.
Close the Gap Kenya Chief executive officer Olivier Vandem says the programe that will see 250 digital devices donated to fourteen correctional institutions across the country is meant to empower reformed offenders with requisite skills that will ease their reintegration.
“I am happy to see how you are dignifying offenders and empowering them to fit into the society.” He observed.
According to Tech Kids Africa Executive Director Paul Akwabi, the training will include computer maintenance, graphic design, CCTV installation, computer networking and related packages.
Among the institutions to benefit in the programme are Shikusa Borstal institution, Kamae girls Borstal institution, Shanzu probation hostel, Nairobi boys’ probation hostel, Kimumu junior probation hostel, Kimumu senior probation hostel, Nakuru girls’ probation hostel, Kamiti youth corrective centre, Kisumu women prison, Meru women prison, Thika women, Murang’a women and Nyeri women Prison.