A photo shared online by Kenyans.co.ke on Monday, January 23, of Kenya Prisons Service showcasing some of their finished furniture products captured the attention of social media users wondering how and where to buy some of the pieces of art.
According to Kenya Prisons Service, the furniture made by inmates in various rehabilitation facilities across the country can be bought at a showroom in Prisons Headquarters, Magereza House in Nairobi.
Different furniture, including sofa sets, coffee tables, beds, cabinets and storage benches, can also be accessed at different showrooms strictly run by the Kenya Prisons Service across the country.
To make them stand out, the pieces of furniture are carefully crafted using hardwood materials and quality finishings.
Prisoners working in the area emphasise hand craftsmanship, where they apply applied and decorative arts to make ceramic pieces, metalwork, furniture, jewellery, fashion, various textile arts, and glassware.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, National Police Spokesperson Resila Atieno Onyango confirmed that anyone could buy art pieces.
" The Prisons Furniture shop is open to the public. You can walk in at Magereza House," she stated.
However, the prices for different products made by inmates have been published online. Buyers can get the prices by visiting the showrooms, including Magereza House in Nairobi.
"The Catalogue for the current stock is under development," Kenya Prisons revealed after taking East African Affairs Cabinet Rebecca Miano on tour on Monday, January 23.
Prices of beds in Nairobi range between Ksh10,000 to Ksh100,000 depending on the type of wood and decorative art, while chairs cost up to Ksh70,000.
"Different things from furniture, leather products, crafts, beadwork, embroidery, soap, water, metalwork products and many more," Kenya Prisons responded to concerns regarding what they showcase.
Despite claims that Kenyans are charged for visiting the showrooms, Kenya Prisons dismissed the claims maintaining that any interested buyer can visit their showrooms without paying a penny.
The Magereza House showroom is open to the public from Monday to Friday between 8 am- 5 pm and Saturday from 8 am - 1 pm.
Initially, only government parastatals and agencies were allowed to buy furniture from different showrooms owned by the Prisons department across the country. However, in 2017, the government moved to allow the public to buy some products.
In the prison reforms, money collected was to be shared between the government and inmates. In the changes, they were not given the money but put in savings accounts, which prisoners would access after the jail term lapsed.
