I became an activist to fight crime, but greed made me the crime

Tell us more about your growing up 

I was born in Migori, but raised in Mombasa, Magongo estate. I am the first born in a family of five. Growing up, I would say it wasn’t that easy, my parents were not that stable, and we struggled through life. After completing Standard Eight, I relocated to the village where I transitioned to high school. I went back to Magongo after Form Four and that’s where my life changed for the worse after I failed to proceed to college. Initially, I resolved to become an activist in our estate where I started a group to fight crime. 

The group became so popular and respected that when there was any theft case, we would be approached to find the stolen goods, and we used to get them and return them to the owners.  

We even collaborated with security officers to fight criminal gangs. After working for years, greed crept in. Since we started the group, I had zero benefits; there was nothing to take back at home and my family was facing rough times. So, I decided to convert the group into a criminal gang.

Did you, at one point, ever feel guilty? 

At the beginning, we used to hide in the good reputation that we created. We used to commit robberies away from our estate. Slowly by slowly, it became a job and we would do it fearlessly. We even expanded our operations to other towns. There is a time we travelled all the way to Nairobi to rob a certain tycoon. It was there that I happened to meet another group that was more experienced than we were. They were also suppliers of firearms and through their links, I managed to own one and also learnt to manufacture fake guns.

Your group was hired by a certain church to harvest body organs.

Yes, after the group had become so feared and dangerous, a certain church approached us with a business proposal. The business was to kidnap and kill kids and then extract specific organs. Some of the members accepted the deal, but I couldn’t. It was too much. 

What were they doing with the human organs?  

I have no idea! Probably for sacrifices. I am sure you have seen bodies that are recovered with missing organs.

You were almost nabbed by cops...

Yes. On this particular day, we stole goods from a shop. Unfortunately, we were captured by CCTV cameras. My face was circulated, and that is how my parents learnt of my criminal life. They were devastated. 

How did you find yourself in Tanzania?

After the environment became hostile, I went to hide in Tanzania for more than two years, but I wasn’t at peace. I later returned in 2020. I did a lot of soul-searching and decided to change my ways. At first, I wanted to surrender to the police, but I changed my mind. I asked my parents for forgiveness. 

How did you join church?

My mother advised me to surrender myself to church. I surrendered my firearm and turned to Christ. I later surrendered to the police, but by good luck, I was pardoned with the help of my pastor.

Tell us about your new organisation. 

The group reaches out to the youth and I sensitise them against crime.