Christmas comes early for inmates at Kisumu Women’s Prison

The women inmates at the Kodiaga-based facility were treated to cake, soft drinks and assorted sweets on Christmas Eve, courtesy of Carters Foundation. Faith Matete 

The women inmates at the Kodiaga-based facility were treated to cake, soft drinks and assorted sweets on Christmas Eve, courtesy of Carters Foundation. Faith Matete 

Christmas arrived early for inmates at Kisumu Women’s Prison after an international faith-based charity reached across continents to deliver a message of hope, compassion and human dignity to women spending the festive season behind bars.

The women inmates at the Kodiaga-based facility were treated to cake, soft drinks and assorted sweets for Christmas Eve, courtesy of Carters Foundation, a US-based charitable organization working alongside Pastors Ervin and Melva Henderson of the World Outreach Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

For many of the inmates, the simple celebration provided a rare sense of normalcy and emotional relief during a period that is often marked by loneliness and separation from family.

Carters Foundation Director Apostle Patrice Andre Carter said the outreach was inspired by the Hendersons’ long-standing commitment to humanitarian service and global ministry.

“The Hendersons believe that love and service should reach every corner of society, including places that are often forgotten,” Carter said, noting that the Christmas donation was intended to restore hope and dignity among incarcerated women.

The World Outreach Center, founded by the Hendersons, combines spiritual leadership training with community-focused humanitarian efforts both in the United States and internationally, targeting vulnerable populations during critical moments such as the festive season.

Prison officials welcomed the gesture, describing it as emotionally uplifting for inmates serving various sentences.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the prison, Officer in Charge Madam Josephine Onderi said the support would have a lasting psychological impact.

“Moments like this remind the inmates that they are still part of society and that people out there care about their well-being,” Onderi said.

She added that the festive season often draws goodwill from individuals and organizations, helping inmates cope with the emotional strain associated with incarceration during holidays.

Beyond holiday outreach, Carters Foundation has played a significant role in improving living conditions at Kisumu Women’s Prison through long-term development initiatives.

Most notably, the foundation recently funded and constructed a childcare centre within the facility at a cost of Sh8 million, addressing the needs of children living in prison with their incarcerated mothers.

At any given time, more than 15 children reside at the prison, a reality that presents unique challenges to their growth, learning and social development.

According to Carter, the plight of these children motivated the foundation to invest in a facility designed to offer a nurturing and child-friendly environment.

“The children did not choose these circumstances, and they deserve care, safety and opportunities to grow,” he said.

The centre is fully equipped with modern learning materials, beds, toys and a classroom, creating an environment that supports early childhood development.

It also includes private breastfeeding rooms to allow mothers to care for their children with dignity.

Carters Foundation has indicated plans to mobilize additional resources to establish similar childcare facilities in other women’s prisons across the country.

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