United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The UNODC Regional Office in East Africa (ROEA)

The official launch and commissioning of the vocational training programme and handover of equipment in rehabilitation schools

Nairobi (Kenya), 10 November, 2021 – The vocational training programme for children in rehabilitation schools managed by the Directorate of Children Services, was officially launched and commisioned by the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes, Hon. Prof. Margaret Kobia, PhD, MGH.

Among other guests was Justice Teresia Matheka, Chair of the Special Task for Children, National Council on the Administration of Justice; Mr. Nelson Marwa, Principal Secretary for State Department of Social Protection; Children from Kabete Boys’, Dagoretti and Kirigiti Girls Rehabilitation Schools; and Ms. Charity Kagwi, Head of UNODC Regional Office of Eastern Africa, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme.

Funded by the Government of Canada, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Eastern Africa procured and handed over the training equipment to the Directorate of Children Services through the project "Preventing Violent Extremism through Rehabilitation, Vocational Training and Social Reintegration in Statutory Children’s Institutions in Kenya (phase 2)”. The equipment is aimed at enhancing skills in the following vocational training workshops: Masonry; Carpentry; Automotive, Electrical and Wiring; Poultry; Tailoring and Dressmaking; and Bakery and Confectionery at the six Rehabilitation Schools being supported by the Project, namely: Kabete, Likoni, Kakamega, Wamumu, Dagoretti and Kirigiti rehabilitation schools.

This support responds to one of the findings of the Assessment Report on Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration Programmes Services and Practices for Children in Conflict with the Law in Kenya published in January 2021. The report revealed that institutions for children in conflict with the law ran a range of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes that were inadequate.  This presented an opportunity for redesigning as well as introducing new and relevant programmes. The under-funding of these programmes was evident, and the vocational training was often ineffective owing to lack of training materials or trainers. Formal educational programmes operate below standard due to inadequate staffing and overall funding.

The project, through its partners has supported 21 children (8 girls and 13 boys) who exited from these rehabilitation schools in 2020 to join secondary education – a recognition of the role education plays in preventing crime.

“The success of any Nation depends on deliberate effort and resources we devote to our children and youth,” emphasized Hon. Prof. Kobia. She affirmed that the government is continuously reforming child justice system for effective rehabilitation and reintegration of child offenders. She also added that the Children Act 2001 is being amended to be in conformity with the Constitution and international standards on child justice. This effort is aimed at addressing emerging issues and protection of children. Optimal rehabilitation and reintegration of child offenders requires well designed programmes to produce responsible citizens.

Hon. Prof. Kobia also recognized the role United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office Eastern Africa and the Criminal Justices Agencies in promoting justice for children in Kenya and improved rehabilitation programmes in Statutory Children Institutions for sustainable reintegration. 

She also thanked the Government of Canada for the financial support towards project interventions aimed at enhancing rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.

Ms. Charity Kagwi extended her appreciation to all criminal justice system actors who play a key role in reforming the criminal justice system, especially the child justice system. 

Additionally, she underscored UNODC’s mandate on crime prevention and reduction in violence through the adoption of various approaches in line with the Economic and Social Council Resolution 2002/13. The Resolution supports the promotion of people’s well-being and encourages pro-social behaviour through social, economic, health and education measures. 

Through the project, UNODC had embarked on a transition process to prevent young offenders from recidivism, help them reach their full potential and divert their minds from crime. 

The introduction of education and vocational training in the children statutory institutions will enhance young offenders’ knowledge and hands-on-skills to give them a fair chance of prospering in life as part of economic empowerment for the youth.

The objective of this initiative is to mould children’s behavior, build their resilience and equip them with vocational skills to contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Government’s Big Four Agenda through the improvement of the quality of the education and vocational training programmes. 

For more information on the official launch and handover please click below: 

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC): https://youtu.be/q5XrKjFLCI0

For more information, please contact: 

Ms. Charity Kagwi – charity.kagwi@un.org   

Head of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme

UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa