Innocent man spends 6 years in prison over Sh20 car ride

James Chege leaves Nairobi West Prison on Wednesday after the High Court found that he was wrongfully convicted of robbery with violence.  [PHOTO: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

It has been six years since James Chege saw the sun set outside the prison grills with heavily armed warders. Today, the young man, now 27 years old, will be enjoying his freedom again after being released by the High Court, which found him innocent of robbery with violence charges and being in possession of stolen property.

At 6pm, a signal to release him is sent from the High Court to the officer in charge of Nairobi West Prison and Chege appears within a short while with a small bundle of belongings in a blue paper bag. He is calm but at the same time dazzled by the relief of leaving prison without an officer or handcuffs, for the first time since 2008.