Ever imagined of the moment the prison gates lock up behind the sentenced individuals what awaits them and what lightens them up despite the darkness that truly exists?Well an expose has revealed both the royal and poor story of a Kenyan Prison.
Investigations have been able to establish that convicted criminals and remand prisoners who dare to dream and have access to cash, can live like kings in self-contained cells kitted with satellite TV services and flush toilets at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.
There are at least 50 TV sets in Kamiti, which are distributed in the various wards. Block A, which has 10 wards has an equal number of TVs while block D has four sets followed by E with two, while F, G and isolation have one set each.
In the wing where terror suspects are remanded, there is one TV.
At the VIP wing three former police officers, a hit man and a highly connected former court clerk are all serving life sentences and death for murder.
They all enjoy the services of pay cable TV programmes. However, in the other wards, the inmates have found alternatives.
“We have subscribed to a lower digital service TV where we pay about Sh1,000 a month. The accounts were opened by prisoners who are in Kamiti. I pay mine every month using mobile money transfer,” says a prisoner.
The prisoners say some TV packages were preferred because they do not require satellite dishes but instead rely on aerials.
However, inside their cells, the inmates still have to contend with thin and tattered mattresses, which are shared by because of a serious shortage.
“Some inmates share mattresses because the prisons do not have enough. The same case applies to uniforms and sweaters where inmates have to pay for their own uniforms or walk around in rags,” says an inmate. A prisoner on death row says, “It is normal for the bus to carry at least 120 inmates and prison officers. At times we are ferried to courts using leased lorries, which are equally uncomfortable.