If Leah Wairimu had the chance to go back in time and change anything in her life, she would go back to 2013 and change the course of events that led to her being separated from her children and serving a prison sentence.

At the time, Wairimu had decided to end a 10-year relationship characterised by constant fighting. Unfortunately, the break-up did not go well.

Also Read: My life in Nakuru GK prison

"The year was 2013, in February, when I accidentally killed a man we had been in a relationship with for 10 years, when he visited me with a knife after I had ended the constant fights we always had, and in an act of defence I stabbed him in the chest," Wairimu said.

She was arrested the same day and taken to prison, where she stayed until 2014, when she was released on bail. Her troubles were far from over and on September 20, 2018 she was taken back to prison.

She had just given birth to her third child, who was only eight months old at the time.

Also Read: A fight over Ugali and eggs earned me 10 years in jail

"On the day of my arrest, as a mother who wanted to bond with my child, I went to prison with my daughter, leaving behind two of my adult children," she said.

Over the years, the mother of three has faced the challenges of parenthood in an unlikely environment, watching her daughter get separated from her every day from 8am to 4pm when she was taken to nursery.

"Little did I know that a time would come when I would be faced with the difficult decision of making a selfless choice to give my first-born daughter custody of my then three-year-old," she notes.

The transition was bittersweet, marked by tears and hugs as the mother knew she was giving her child a chance at a more conventional upbringing.

According to Nakuru GK women's prison superintendent Linah Tarus, there are set rules for women who arrive with babies.

Also Read: 69 Year Old Set to Reunite With Family after Serving 20 years Jail Term

"A prison has strict rules, women are allowed to be with their babies until they are three years old," says Ms Tarus.

The reason, she says, is that a four-year-old child is old enough to familiarise itself with the environment.

"Bringing the child to the nursery allows them to interact with other children and grow up like any other child, as we try not to get them used to the prison environment," she explains.

Ms Taurus says that breastfeeding mothers are given a special light diet and are not allowed to work until they have finished breastfeeding.

"If things go as planned, we will expand our premises to ensure that women who come with children have separate wards, but for now it's unfortunate that they have to share," she says.

mandikizella@gmail.com

Parenting behind bars: What it is like to raise a baby in Nakuru GK Prison

Author Spotlight

Winnie Kimani