Coding classes are rewriting futures in a Kenyan youth prison

Coding Classes Are Rewriting Futures in a Kenyan Youth Prison

A New Path for Young Offenders

Coding classes are rewriting futures – A Kenyan tech entrepreneur named Paul Akwabi recently visited Shimo La Tewa Borstal Institution, a youth prison located on the outskirts of Mombasa, and found himself reflecting on a past he once thought was distant. Memories of navigating the narrow alleys of Nairobi’s Kibera slum, where he grew up, resurfaced as he observed young boys engaged in activities that mirrored his own childhood experiences. Delivering drugs and firearms for older peers had once been a routine part of his life, but he had chosen a different route. Instead, he taught himself electronics through books and repaired radios to earn a living. “Technology became more than a hobby—it became my way out of poverty,” Akwabi said, emphasizing how his early exposure to machines shaped his future.

Transforming Lives Through Education

Driven by this personal journey, Akwabi launched TechKidz Africa, a technology academy aimed at empowering young innovators across Kenya. The organization typically partners with schools to teach children aged 4 to 19 foundational skills in coding, robotics, and digital literacy. However, in 2024, TechKidz took its mission a step further by introducing its programs to Shimo La Tewa Borstal Institution. The initiative was born from Akwabi’s belief in second chances and a desire to equip inmates with tools for reintegration into society.

Collaboration for Digital Empowerment

Partnering with Close the Gap Kenya, a nonprofit that refurbishes and donates IT equipment, TechKidz installed a computer lab in the prison and developed a three-month digital literacy course tailored for young offenders. The program focuses on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills, with an emphasis on employability and online safety. For the first cohort of 25 participants, 21 had never interacted with a computer before. “At first, it was difficult to operate the computer,” wrote a 19-year-old learner from Nyeri County in response to a CNN question, highlighting the stark contrast between their prior experiences and the new technology they were learning.

Building Skills, Fostering Confidence

One 18-year-old from Meru County shared a different perspective. “I was able to use a computer for the first time and enjoyed typing activities,” he said, adding that the graphic design skills he gained might help him promote his plumbing business after release. These anecdotes underscore the transformative potential of the program, which aims to bridge the gap between digital illiteracy and technological proficiency among Kenya’s youth population. The curriculum is designed to progress from basic concepts like digital ethics and hardware repairs to advanced topics such as coding, web design, and robotics.

Challenges in Kenya’s Tech Access

Kenya’s growing tech innovation sector has created opportunities, but disparities in access to technology persist. A 2024 government survey revealed that while just over 50% of the population uses mobile phones, only 11.6% regularly use computers. The Center for International Governance Innovation noted that urban areas benefit from significantly higher internet access and digital literacy compared to rural and marginalized communities. This divide is particularly evident in youth prisons, where many inmates have limited exposure to computers. “We had to start from way, way lower—just understanding even what computers are and their purpose before we started teaching them how to use them,” Akwabi explained.

Rural Communities and the Prison System

Senior superintendent Jostinah Wawasi Mwang’ombe of Shimo La Tewa Institution told CNN that the prison’s population reflects the broader socioeconomic challenges in Kenya. “Many of the boys here come from lower-income rural backgrounds, often with minimal formal education,” she said. For these young offenders, the most computer access they’ve had—should they have had any—was watching movies in cybercafés. The prison’s program now addresses this by offering basic “digital hygiene” training, ensuring inmates can use technology responsibly and develop positive habits for the future.

Curriculum That Builds on Existing Skills

The three-month course is structured to complement the vocational training the boys receive during their three-year sentences. Participants are selected based on their performance in vocational exams, which cover skills like carpentry, barbering, agriculture, and masonry. TechKidz Africa’s curriculum gradually introduces ICT concepts, starting with digital ethics and data protection before progressing to email etiquette and Microsoft Excel and Word skills. By the end of the program, learners tackle coding, web design, and video production, providing them with a versatile skill set for post-release opportunities.

Rehabilitation and Reintegration Efforts

Kenya’s adult prisons face severe overcrowding, with the chief justice describing the conditions as “untenable.” However, recent judicial reforms have shifted the focus toward rehabilitation and reintegration. Shimo La Tewa Borstal Institution, which houses boys aged 15 to 18 who have committed serious crimes, aligns with this approach. Inmates are required to participate in either formal education, vocational training, or agricultural programming during their sentence. The last two years of their term can be spent on probation in the community, allowing them to apply their skills in real-world settings.

A Vision for the Future

Akwabi’s initiative represents a broader movement to redefine how technology can be used as a tool for redemption. “I thought, ‘This could have been me,’” he reflected, underscoring the program’s personal and societal significance. The collaboration between TechKidz Africa and Close the Gap Kenya has already created a foundation for future programs, with the potential to scale across other correctional facilities. By focusing on digital literacy, the project not only equips young offenders with skills but also challenges the notion that technology is a luxury reserved for the privileged. “The idea is to give them a chance to rebuild their lives,” Akwabi said, adding that the program is just the beginning of a larger effort to empower Kenya’s youth through education.

Quotes from Learners

“At first, it was difficult to operate the computer,” wrote a 19-year-old learner from Nyeri County in response to a CNN question, highlighting the stark contrast between their prior experiences and the new technology they were learning.

“I was able to use a computer for the first time and enjoyed typing activities,” said an 18-year-old from Meru County, adding that the graphic design skills he gained might help him promote his plumbing business after release.