Gov
Okoth Obado gives blankets and mattresses at Migori GK Prison
The County Government of Migori is in the process of coordinating with the national government in initiating a programme to do follow-up on the correctional status of released inmates in the county.
Governor Zachary Okoth Obado said that the initiative will see a change of behaviour and reduce cases of insecurity in the county.
One month ago, four people were gunned down by unknown thugs in Kehancha and Ntimaru towns in Kuria West and Kuria East sub counties. Last week, mob beat two suspected criminals and seriously injured them in Migori town. They were rescued by police officers.
He said that lack of proper follow-up on the released prisoners could be one of the factors leading to repeated criminal acts in the society.
“Some communities don’t value released prisoners. This is why we shall do the follow up as an important move for our people from jails. It will deter the offenders from further engaging in criminal behaviour,” he said.
Obado spoke at the Migori GK Prison where, in partnership with the Ariane International donated more than 400 blankets, 200 mattresses and a bull to more than 400 inmates in the facility.
“I also appeal to the prisoners to think big on how they can change their behaviour after imprisonment. Our societies should welcome them and help them achieve better life after jail,” Obado added.
The governor also donated 1010 mattresses and 2000 blankets to more than 240 self-help groups of women, youth and people living with disabilities across the county.
Obado said that government was committed to working fully with the Ariane International in order to improve livelihoods of the people of Migori.
He said that more than 800 people, including the inmates benefitted from the initiative which is also aimed at alleviating poverty in the county.
In the population of over 900,000 people in Migori County, about 43 per cent are still living below poverty line.
The items were donated to the less fortunate selected from all the 40 wards in the county.
The Ariane International Executive Director, Wilson Onyango, said that the organisation has just launched one of
its partnership projects with Migori County and promised to have more initiatives in the area.
The Migori County Assembly Speaker, Boaz Okoth, said that the Assembly was supporting the partnership and appealed to the organisation to help in doing more projects.
“We are supporting the move. This is an initiative of a kind that will empower our people and alleviate poverty in Migori,” Okoth said.
