2023-01-06 The Story of Jane Kiio in Nairobi, Kenya

I first met Jane in Jan 2016 when I visited Langata Women's Prison in Nairobi, Kenya, for Mass with my Oblate confrere Fr Fidelis O.M.I.

Fr Fidelis told me how many women were unable to leave the prison because they could not pay a fine associated with their charge.
And so Jane, a single mother of 4 children, was in prison for 6 years because her family and friends could not pay her fine of about 200,000 Kenyan Shillings (about US$1,600). A teacher of one of the children had been helping them look after themselves for 6 years.

Jane's moving story got me to contact a kind friend in HK that night ....who sent the money to Fr Fidelis ....and Jane was released two months later on March 8:

In January 2023 I met Jane again .... at the Nairobi centre of the NGO Clean Start which helps women find jobs when they leave prison. On January 5 Jane shared her story with a large group of people, and with myself anonymously in this video. ....explaining how, after leaving prison and making contact with Clean Start, she took up a carpentry (!) course and graduated as a full-qualified carpenter!

She is now in the process of setting up her own carpentry business which she hopes can employ other former prisoners -.including men!- for which I gave her a special donation.

On January 6 Jane took part in a Mass at Langata Prison ....her first time back since her release ....and her amazing story gave great encouragement to the 100 women who attended the Mass led by prison chaplains Fr Peter and Fr Innocent ... with myself also as a concelebrant.

God bless you Jane!

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