Former Convict Recounts How ‘ Nirudishie Pesa Zangu au Tutaonana’ SMS Got Him A 20-Year Jail Sentence
Amos Simiyu, a former inmate of Kitengela GK Prison, has shared his experience of receiving a 20-year prison sentence due to what he believes was a misinterpreted text message.
Simiyu faced challenges in his early years, having to end his education in Class 3 due to financial difficulties within his family.
He later experienced the tragic loss of his sole family members, his mother and sister, during the 2007 post-election violence. This difficult situation compelled him to relocate to Nairobi in pursuit of better opportunities.
Ultimately, fortune smiled upon him when he secured employment at a horticultural farm in Thika. It was there that he crossed paths with his future wife and business collaborator. Joining forces, they built both a family and a successful venture in the textile sector.
Simiyu’s joy was fleeting, and his troubles began when a close friend borrowed 86,000 Kenyan Shillings from him with a promise to repay, but ultimately failed to do so.
He made several unsuccessful attempts to reach out to his friend for the owed payment. Frustrated, Simiyu decided to send a text message that would later serve as evidence for the friend’s arrest.
Narrating his experience on Citizen TV’s ‘Shajara na Lulu’ show on Friday morning, he revealed that the text message simply read: “Nirudishie pesa zangu au tutaonana.”
The mentioned acquaintance appeared to perceive the text as a threat and subsequently notified the police. As a result, four law enforcement officers arrived at Simiyu’s residence a few days later to apprehend him, acting on the serious allegations made by his friend.
He was held in custody in Kajiado before appearing in court, where he admitted guilt to the charges to avoid prolonged detention in the undesirable cells. However, he was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison.
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He clarified that his spouse, with whom he had a child, visited him only on two occasions throughout his time in prison.
Simiyu mentioned that the most recent conversation he had with his wife occurred over the phone. During this call, she proposed the idea of separating and shared with him that she had moved to Isinya, located in Kajiado County.
The prison sentence drastically disrupted Simiyu’s existence, leaving him with a profound sense of losing his identity. He mentioned being diagnosed with ulcers as a result of extreme stress and compared the prison cells to coffins.
“Being imprisoned for 20 years was completely hard for me, I felt like I had lost myself. Jail is not a good place, it was hard,” he recalled.
“The food was terrible. We were dressed in clothes of shame. The rooms there looked like caskets.”
Simiyu credited his ability to endure the challenges he encountered in prison to his steadfast faith and optimism in God, which provided him with resilience and strength.
After Simiyu was imprisoned, he lacked awareness about the appeal procedure. Consequently, he submitted the appeal several years later, only to receive no response.
Subsequently, the appeal was verified as submitted by a law enforcement official responsible for processing the appeals of the convicted individuals.
Simiyu asserted that the processing of appeals at Kitengela GK Prison is delayed, so he requested a transfer to Kajiado GK Prison, where he believed appeals were expedited to some extent.
“In 2021, there was a new police officer who was transferred. He handled appeals and reviews. He confirmed that the appeal was submitted,” he said.
“I asked to be transferred to Kajiado prison because appeals in Kitengela appeals take a while.”
Simiyu was eventually set free following the success of his appeal and is currently working as a cobbler to sustain himself.
He is currently reaching out to supporters for assistance in funding his shoe-manufacturing venture. He has assured that he harbors no resentment towards the friend responsible for his imprisonment.
Former Convict Recounts How ‘ Nirudishie Pesa Zangu au Tutaonana’ SMS Got Him A 20-Year Jail Sentence
