Betty Luke
Isiolo Law Court Chief Magistrate Ms Lucy Mutai has funded the construction of a Daycare center at the Isiolo Women prison aimed at offering a conducive environment for children who are born there or accompany their mothers to the correctional facility.
The facility will offer children aged below four years an opportunity to be exposed to basic education and interact with each other for holistic growth.
Ms Mutai said the idea for the project which is a way of giving back to the community came after realizing the numerous risks that children at the prison were exposed including exposure to strange behaviours while they stayed with their mothers at the adult wards in the facility.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to take care of young children as they are innocent and helpless. When we support their holistic growth, we contribute to a better society,” said Ms Mutai.
Isiolo Women’s Prison incharge Ms Lucy Gacheri hailed the initiative terming it a huge relief to the prison’s administration and the inmates mothers.
She said separating the children from the mothers would promote their social well-being and ensure they do not lag behind on education.
“Such a space will ensure the young ones are introduced to learning early enough instead of introducing them after the four years, when they are released from the prison,” she said.
Ms Mutai called on other well wishers to support the equipping the facility once completed in the course of the year.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Court Users Committee including representatives from the Law Society of Kenya who pledged to support the initiative.
