By S, KNA
Twenty- three inmates serving their prison sentences at the Kericho GK main prison are among candidates set to sit for their 2025 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examinations with hopes of excelling and transiting to Junior Secondary School next year.
This years’ KPSEA exams set for Grade 6 learners is scheduled to take place from 27 October to 29 October 2025. Rehearsals are scheduled for 24 October this year.
In an interview with KNA, the Officer – In – Charge (OIC) of the prison Julius Kirapus said inmates serving sentences of three years or more at the penal institution are offered a chance to pursue their formal education.
He further added that inmates who pass their KPSEA exams will be transferred to prisons equipped with junior secondary schools to continue with their education.
Kirapus exuded confidence that the inmates would perform well adding that the prison facility will strive to continue to support the education program fully while in the same breath revealing that last year 21 inmates sat for their KPSEA behind bars.
“At Kericho GK main prison, we have 23 prisoners sitting for this years’ KPSEA and I am positive they will perform well since their four trained teachers have adequately prepared them for this national examination. When they pass in their KPSEA, we shall move them to Naivasha Maximum prison or Kamiti Maximum prison to continue their secondary school education and we know they will continue up to university level. Something important to note is that before we enroll an inmate, we consider the years that he has been convicted and in this penal facility, those pursuing their primary education while behind bars are prisoners serving jail terms of three years and above,” he said.
The Kericho prison boss said education is an important tool of rehabilitation of prisoners since it provides an avenue for a prisoners’ transformation to become better persons in their communities.
“Education is an important tool of rehabilitation and reformation of prisoners that can change behaviors, character irrespective of their offences. It provides an avenue for a prisoners’ transformation to become better persons in their communities. Once a prisoner is educated, he has knowledge and it is definite he will not become a repeat offender,” added OIC Kirapus.
The prison boss revealed that the prison holds approximately 800 inmates, most of who are remand prisoners from Bomet and Sotik prisons who are still on trial for capital offences.
In the same breath, a senior welfare officer Joseph Maritim noted that crime is a prime factor that instigates a person to commit crime and education for prisoners behind bars was key to achieve rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.
“If you randomly check most of these crimes committed are due to illiteracy and education for prisoners will help them to know the outside world and save them from relapsing back to their vices,” said Maritim.
One of the trained P1 teacher who doubles up as a prison warder Mr. John Ooko said the inmates were ready for their KPSEA exams as they were adequately prepared, having completed the syllabus early and was positive the Kericho main prison candidates will perform well.
“My candidates are ready for the exams. I can only wish them success in the coming KPSEA exams. We have done revision and have gone through the books and we have done our level best with the resources that we have gathered to prepare them adequately. Our main aim for rehabilitation is education. I am hoping that once they complete their sentences they will be changed people in their communities,” said Ooko.
An inmate serving a 15- year- sentence for defilement at the penal institution Aaron Rotich, 20, from Bomet County said he opted to go back to school after getting convicted in July 2020 despite dropping out of school in 2017 while in class five. The inmate expressed his aspiration to study law and pursue a career in the field upon his release.
“I come from a humble background and I dropped out of school because my parents could not afford school fees. I am confident I will excel in my KPSEA exams and I look forward to studying law,” said Rotich.
On the other hand, Cheruiyot Dickson, 35, from Sotik constituency in Bomet County said he was happy that he got an opportunity to complete his primary education now that he is serving a three- year- sentence for computer fraud after dropping out in class eight. He revealed that he was convicted in March 2025 and hopes to become a teacher.
The KPSEA is an assessment for Grade 6 learners in Kenya that was introduced as part of the Competency –Based Curriculum CBC to evaluate learners’ progress and readiness for junior secondary school.
KPSEA is the final examination for Grade Six learners who are expected to transit to Junior Secondary Schools (Grade 7) in January 2026.
End/Education/Ngatia/Obure
Pix and captions by Sarah Njagi
PIX 01: A section of the 23 inmates at the Kericho GK main prison posing for a photo with their teachers during a revision session for their 2025 KPSEA exams.