Influence of Prison Life on Rehabilitation Program Uptake by Inmates in Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Mburu, Hellen Wairimu
Pacificah Okemwa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Kenyan prisons' primary objective is to rehabilitate the offenders by equipping them with selfdependence
skills to avoid reoffending. The conditions under which inmates live are quite
challenging and stressful; therefore, negatively affecting the rehabilitation program uptake by
inmates. This study sought to examine the influence of prison life on men and women inmates in
their rehabilitation process. The following objectives guided the study: to describe the environment
in which inmates rehabilitation is implemented, to examine the effect of prison programs on
inmates rehabilitation, to analyse the gender-related challenges that inmates encounter, and to
identify gender-responsive strategies on the rehabilitation of inmates. The study employed the
deprivation theory by Sykes (1958) and Bandura's Social Cognitive theory (1986). The study used
a descriptive survey research design. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using
questionnaires, interview schedules, and Focus Group Discussions. This study targeted 500
inmates (both first time offenders and recidivists), 30 prison officers, and 4 key informants in
Thika prison. The study first used stratified sampling to divide the population of inmates according
to gender to get 300 men and 200 women inmates; then, stratified was used to subdivide the
inmates according to length of imprisonment and simple random was employed in each stratum to
pick inmates from jail register. Purposive sampling was further employed to select 20 men and 10
women recidivists from the prison register. The study used a sample size of 30% of the total
population of men and women inmates and prison officers to get 90 men, 60 women inmates and 9
prison officers. Descriptive statistics such as percentages and mode were used to analyse
quantitative data and were presented using tables and graphs. Qualitative data were analysed using
themes and patterns formed and presented in narrative and verbatim forms. The study established
that prison conditions were poor due to inappropriate accommodation status, inadequate food, and
inappropriate health services contributing to inmates hardening. Moreover, inmates participated in
elaborate prison programs which helped them ease the pain of imprisonment and assured them of
employment after imprisonment making them hopeful. The study findings illustrated that both men
and women inmates were dissatisfied because of visitation procedures, stigmatization and loss of
employment. Women inmates were more affected by relationships and stigmatization while loss of
employment heavily affected men. The study further revealed that the prison had good policies and
programs for the inmates. However, the prison authority failed to clearly explain policies and
practices that addressed the realities that men and women are biologically and socially different.
This contributed to gender dissatisfaction contributing to reoffending. Therefore, the study
recommended that courts should employ non-custodial sentences such as community service,
probation sentences, fines, parole and bonding, and speed up delayed remand cases to ease prison
congestion. The prison management should also sensitize inmates on the essence of the prison
programs as they offer life skills which are supposed to help them when they go back to society.
The government should improve the rehabilitative programs and more resources geared towards
them. The prison authority should consider facilitating better visitation procedures to enhance
familial relationships. Further, the government should set aside stipends to facilitate inmates to
start a business after imprisonment. Finally, the prison authority should recognize that gender
differences affect inmates' experiences and their rehabilitation process and, therefore, explain to
the inmates their gender rights and provisions in prison. It is hoped that the study findings may
enhance the on-going prison reforms to create a conducive environment for the correction of the
inmates, both men and women. Moreover, the findings may urge the government to support
rehabilitation program uptake to help reduce recidivism in the country.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for Award of Masters of Arts Degree (Gender and Development Studies) of Kenyatta University 2021.
Keywords
Prison Life, Rehabilitation, Program, Inmates, Kiambu County, Kenya