Kabete Rehabilitation School

Established in 1910 by the colonial government as Kenya’s first correctional facility, Kabete Rehabilitation School is a state-run statutory institution in Nairobi’s Kitisuru area designed to reform and educate boys aged 10 to 17 who are in conflict with the law. The school operates as a medium-risk boarding facility where juveniles sentenced by children’s courts for up to three years receive a blend of primary education and vocational training in fields such as masonry, tailoring, and metalwork. Managed through a partnership between the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Ministry of Education, the institution aims for holistic reintegration into society, although it frequently navigates significant operational hurdles including chronic underfunding, delayed government capitation, and a shortage of specialized instructional materials. Despite these challenges, the school maintains a rigorous focus on discipline and character building, recently hosting modern initiatives like the Creatives Innovation Hub to equip residents with 21st-century digital skills before they return to their communities.