The Kenya Prison Service is a department in the Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Home Affairs. Encouraged by the Kenya Prison Reforms initiated in 2001 with the pronouncement of open door policy, the Kenya Prison Service adopted the Remote Parenting System of inmate rehabilitation.

According to rule 79 of the UNSMR, ‘Special attention shall be paid to the maintenance and improvement of such relations between a prisoner and his or her family as are desirable in the best interest of both’. Given the sizeable percentage of single-parents prison inmates in Kenya, This system encourages the maintenance and improvement of family relations, as well as the mental health of the Inmates by providing them with the opportunity of unrestricted quality time with their children.

The Remote Parenting and Prison Open days occur every quarter at the end of the school terms. Currently the Law prohibits inmates from receiving visitors below the age of 18 years. Through the Remote Parenting System, the Kenya Prison service (using the inmate contact information written on their arrest warrants) endeavors to inform members of the inmates’ families of the date for the open days. They do not cover the costs of the transportation of inmates’ family members.

On that day, prisoners are given the opportunity to discuss their children’s performance in school through their academic reports and also advice them on the importance of leading Crime free lives. This admirable practice is funded by the Kenya Prison and it has both the potential for replication and sustainability. It is a highly socially relevant practice which deals with the psychological and social needs of prisoners, hence encouraging good behavior and promoting the acceptability of the parents by the nuclear family and the community at large which then results in smooth re-integration of offenders at the end of their incarceration.