In a landmark step towards transforming correctional facilities into centres of dignity and rehabilitation, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ), through its Nishkam Projects Kericho initiative, has funded and delivered a fully equipped modern kitchen and dining facility at Kericho Women’s Prison, in Kenya.

The facility was officially opened by Mr. Patrick Aranduh, CBS, Commissioner General of Prisons, during his working tour of Kericho Command. It was befitting to have Mata Baldev Kaur Ahluwalia, wife of Bhai Sahib Ji, cut the ribbon for the new facility.  

Mata ji has always demonstrated her compassion, love and deep sense of connection to the other. A retired nurse who lived her early years in Kenya and Tanzania before coming to the UK in 1964 to be trained as a nurse at Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic and Ashford General hospitals.

On moving to live in Zambia with Bhai Sahib Ji, Mata Baldev Kaur served at Zambia Medical Aid Hospital and later went on to become a Senior Registered General Nurse at the Anglo-American clinic in Lusaka. This humanitarian project, initiated by Bhai Sahib Prof. Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia OBE KSG MGH, Chair of GNNSJ and Nishkam Projects Kericho, reflects the organisation’s commitment to ‘nishkamta’ (selfless service) and its mission to restore dignity, wellbeing, and opportunity to underserved communities wherever they may be in the world.

Bhai Sahib Ji commented: “When we restore dignity, we sow the seeds of transformation.

“Our work in Kenya is not charity, it is shared humanity in action.” While Bhai Sahib Ji works vigorously to serve humanity globally, Mata Ji is never too far away.

Her service to humanity and community over the years has been phenomenal. She regularly participates and accompanies Bhai Sahib Ji on local, regional and international commitments.

Reflecting on the opening of the new facility, Mata Ji commented, “It is an honour and privilege to be here in Kericho, Kenya, the work of Bhai Sahib Ji and the congregation on helping society is uplifting and inspiring. The women here deserve the best, we all want and need a safe, clean places to prepare food and eat. This facility will hopefully now be a benchmark for other institutions around the country”.    

The new kitchen and dining hall are designed to improve nutrition, hygiene, and overall welfare for women inmates, creating a more rehabilitative environment. During the opening, Mr. Aranduh commended GNNSJ’s contribution and urged inmates to embrace government rehabilitation programs, register for the ongoing national ID issuance, and use it to access health services.

The modern kitchen is more than bricks and equipment; it is a testament to what partnerships can achieve for dignity and reformation. The Prison kitchen is part of a wider vision for transformation in Kenya, this initiative complements a suite of GNNSJ-led projects in Kenya, spearheaded by Bhai Sahib Prof. Mohinder Singh’s vision of holistic empowerment:

  • Nishkam Saint Puran Singh Institute(NSPSI), Kericho – Providing vocational and technical training for youth, rooted in values and ethics, with a campus that blends education, spirituality, and heritage preservation.
  • Living with Hope Centre Vocational Training & Health Camps– Delivering free medical outreach, including dental, eye, and general care to thousands of local residents.
  • Community Regeneration & Heritage Preservation– Protecting historical Sikh sites in Kenya and restoring them as places of learning, unity, and service.

Bhai Sahib Prof. Mohinder Singh is internationally recognised for his interfaith leadership, having received both the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the Papal Knighthood of St. Gregory the Great (KSG).

His work aligns spiritual devotion with practical service, bridging continents to share resources, knowledge, and hope. In Kenya, his projects embody GNNSJ’s core principle that dignity, education, and wellbeing are the foundations of true rehabilitation and community resilience.

This earned him the prestigious Order of the Golden Heart of the Republic of Kenya, the highest award in Kenya.