KISUMU, Kenya 24th December –On the eve of Christmas, Kisumu Women’s Prison in the Kodiaga area was filled with rare cheer after a US-based charity organisation treated inmates to a festive surprise of cake, drinks and candy, offering a moment of warmth and dignity during the holiday season.
The gesture was made possible through Carter’s Foundation, working in partnership with Ervin and Melva Henderson, the founding pastors of the World Outreach Centre based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States.
The outreach brought smiles to dozens of women inmates who marked the festive season away from their families, but not forgotten.
Carter’s Foundation Director Apostle Patrice Andre Carter said the Christmas Eve gift symbolised the compassion and generosity that the Hendersons have continued to extend beyond their home country.
“This gift to Kisumu Women’s Prison reflects the love and hope that Pastors Ervin and Melva Henderson are spreading across the globe,” Carter said.
The Hendersons’ ministry is driven by a vision to impact lives worldwide and a mission centred on training servant leaders.
Through national and international travels, they combine gospel ministry with humanitarian service, reaching vulnerable communities and institutions often overlooked during festive seasons.
At the Kisumu facility, prison officials and inmates alike welcomed the early Christmas treat.
The celebration, though modest, carried deep meaning for women serving various sentences, many of whom rarely experience moments of joy associated with the holiday season.
“We are delighted as this support will go a long way in brightening the eyes of the inmates during this festive season,” Onderi said.
She added that such acts of kindness help inmates feel remembered and valued, especially at a time when separation from loved ones is most painful.
According to prison authorities, the festive season often brings support from well-wishers, reassuring inmates that society has not completely abandoned them despite their circumstances.
Beyond seasonal gifts, Carter’s Foundation has maintained a sustained relationship with Kisumu Women’s Prison through development-focused initiatives.
In the recent past, the foundation constructed a childcare centre within the prison for Sh8 million, addressing the often-overlooked needs of children living behind bars with their incarcerated mothers.
The centre was established to support children whose mothers are serving sentences at the facility.
More than 15 children reside with their mothers inside the prison at any given time, often missing out on early learning opportunities and social interaction with the outside world.
Foundation director Patrice Andre Carter said the welfare of these children inspired the project.
“This is a centre that will bring smiles to the faces of children and allow them to interact with other children,” Carter said.
The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art toys, beds and a classroom designed to create a safe and stimulating learning environment.
There are also designated rooms where mothers can breastfeed their children in privacy, away from public view, ensuring dignity and comfort.
Under Kenyan correctional regulations, mothers are allowed to stay with their children in prison for up to four years before the children are released to relatives or guardians.
While the policy aims to preserve the mother-child bond, it often places children in restrictive environments unsuitable for early development.
Carter Foundation officials have emphasised that children should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control.
The foundation has expressed commitment to mobilising resources to replicate similar childcare centres in other women’s correctional facilities across the country, ensuring that children receive proper care and early education even as their mothers serve sentences.
As the women inmates of Kisumu marked Christmas with cake and candy, the broader message of the day extended beyond celebration.
It highlighted the power of compassion, partnerships across continents, and a shared belief that dignity, hope, and care should reach even the most remote and confined corners of society.
