A 37-year-old convict serving 30 years jail term at Nakuru GK Prison is yet to join Form One, months after scoring 403 marks in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams.
Solomon Ngatia, convicted of attempted murder in 2012, is unable to join a Form One place due to lack of a secondary facility at Nakuru Prison.
Ngatia’s dream of becoming a doctor was shattered due to poverty which forced him to drop out of school at class seven but when he was convicted, he took the opportunity offered in the prisons to continue with his studies with the hope of finally achieving his life dream of going to University and becoming a doctor.But even this now hangs in the balance.
“I attained 403 marks, but I am unable to continue with my education, due to lack of secondary school education in our facility. Unless I am transferred to Naivasha Prison where they offer secondary education, which requires a lot of protocol,” said Ngatia.
He is now a stand-in teacher for prisoners pursuing primary education when teachers are not available or are engaged elsewhere.“Sometimes I teach issues of depression or how to manage stress to new convicts. I am also an active volleyball player,” he said.
Ngatia says he always prays that the prison authorities can expedite the process of his relocation to continue with studies.”It is demoralising that I cannot proceed with my studies. Term one has ended without me setting foot to Form 1.
