Year 11 Sociology Trip to Langata Women's Prison

This was genuinely an eye opener for all of us and we are all very grateful to have had this opportunity. We learnt that prisons and the inmates aren't as rough and treacherous as society paints them through stereotypes and prejudice.

As a matter of fact, a lot of the inmates held within the prison were actually mistakenly placed within the prison for a crime they didn't commit. Some were placed within the prison as a result of self defence against instances in GBV, assault and desperation in poverty. However, some of the inmates did commit capital offences.

As much as Langata Women's Prison seems like a dangerous place, it actually acts as a place of hope. We toured the facilities and came across some of the daily activities that the inmates partake in such as knitting, pottery, crochet, bag-making, cooking, law and the children’s maternity ward (until they are 4 years old).

Some of the highlights of our trip included the chance to interact with these adorable toddlers, showering them with love. Some of the items donated included cuddlies, miniature cars, lotion, vaseline, tissue, diapers and more. Another is meeting a group of paralegal inmates who were studying law to seek justice for all, especially when the justice system itself fails. They were a beacon of hope for all. Some even pursue an education and despite all that has happened they

Thank you to Mr Wafula and Mrs John for accompanying us on this trip and thanks to the officers who toured us. If we learnt one thing from everyone in the prison, it is that you should avoid bad company to protect yourself from crime and labelling. We also learnt that the inmates are human too, and when released back into society, they should not be treated with injustice and intolerance.

Ambar Joshi

Sociology student

I learnt so much more about prisons than I ever thought I would. I know how fortunate Braeburn School is for our education and upbringing but what I saw changed so much on my perception of Kenyan culture. We've always been taught that prisons are for dangerous people and that they have the roughest conditions built to make them repent for ever doing wrong…..but today we learnt about second chances. We saw how the Langata Women's Prison helps rehabilitate women by letting them practise law, continue schooling, learn how to make and do things that will benefit them when they are on the overall it was a memorable trip that I don't think anyone in our class would ever forget.

Kira Newcomer

Sociology student