All inmates, prison officers countrywide are safe, says Government

Commissioner General of Kenya Prisons, Wycliffe Ogalo has assured that all inmates and prison officers across the country are safe.

Ogalo visited Eldoret GK Prison and Kapenguria Prison to assess measures being employed by various prisons to ensure inmates are protected from Coronavirus.

He said the Prisons Service is following and implementing all the protocols put in place by the Ministry of Health to help protect the inmates from the highly fatal virus that is continuing to claim lives globally.

While noting that the prisons and the inmates are part of the wider Kenyan society, Ogalo said the reported cases of Covid-19 were newly convicted cases and are currently kept in isolation centers to protect those who are already serving their sentences.

He said the Prisons Service has put in place modalities to ensure that the inmates are able to communicate with their relatives to assure them that they are safe.

Meanwhile, parents have been urged to take more responsibility regarding the safety and other basic provisions for their children as they continue with homestay due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking in Isiolo when she distributed sanitary towels to school girls, Education Chief Administrative Secretary Mumina Bonaya said it was high time parents offered more guidance to their children and provided for them more diligently to ensure that they do not fall prey to evil-minded persons who could be out to exploit their ignorance.

Ms. Bonaya noted that the support that the school-going girls used to get in terms of sanitary towels had been cut off by schools’ closure occasioned by the current pandemic.

Consequently, she called on parents to be vigilant with their children warning that unscrupulous elements in the society could be out to exploit the ignorance of the children for sexual favors.

At the same time, the CAS called on parents to assist the children in learning now that schools’ closure is set to continue for some time.