Nairobi — The Catholic Church in Kenya will build a special home for young ex-prisoners to prepare them to settle back in society.

St Joseph Cafasso Consolation House will be put up at Kamiti Prison near Nairobi at a cost of KShs 9 million ($118 000).

The house will serve as a half-way home, where young ex-convicts who have no home to return to will be accommodated, counselled and trained for some time, said Sr Rachael Soria, a Consolata Missionary Sister in charge of the project.

Speaking at Kamiti during a special Eucharistic ceremony for dedication of the project on Thursday, June 23, 2005, Bishop Philip Anyolo, Chairman of the Catholic Commission for Pastoral and Lay Apostolate, appealed to well-wishers to fund the project.

"Young offenders are people who need help rather than punishment," he said. "All that these boys are asking for is a second chance."

The Commissioner of Prisons Abraham Kamakil praised the idea of a half-way house, the first one in Kenya, saying it will help the prison department to achieve its objective of reforming and rehabilitating offenders.