The Challenges Of Rehabilitation Of Prisoners In Kenyan Penal Institutions; A Case Study Of Kericho Prison

Abstract

ABSTRACT Kenya suffers a great problem of recidivism despite various measure to rehabilitate offenders. The study sought to find out the challenges of rehabilitation in Kericho county. The objectives of the study were to examine the strategies employed by rehabilitation officers in rehabilitating offenders and ensuring their resettlement and re-integration back to the community, to establish factors affecting rehabilitation of offenders, the study employed non probability sampling to arrive at 50 offender and 8 rehabilitation officers. Quantitative data was collected, organized, categorized, coded and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Data were collected through questionnaires and document review. The study found out that most respondents were males with little formal education. Some of the challenges of rehabilitation of convicts in Kenya they indicated were absconding of probation work, wrongdoers performing obligations for others, convicts conspiring with supervisors to be placed on rehabilitation, lack of resources for rehabilitation officers. The study established that most of lawbreakers were charged with petty offences such as theft, selling of illicit brew, murder, child negligence and assault. Rehabilitation is necessary for such delinquents to sidestep being hardened in jails. The recommendation of the study was that rehabilitation sector should hire additional officers to avoid overburdening the limited rehabilitation officers on the ground. They also indicated that the government should build practical half way houses to engage offenders to reconcile wrongdoers with public. This will guarantee the safety of the offenders who offended some members of the community who might still be angry and would want to harm them.