Giving inmates a second chance

By Michael Oriedo

The valiant preachers in many churches may shudder in fear or hesitate when asked to preach to prisoners.

Often described as unrepentant, social misfits and criminals, convicts appeal little to men of the cloth, many who are keen on shepherding the righteous.

However, one man has beaten odds to form a gospel ministry dedicated to prisoners. Peter Mosabi Kihingu runs Good News Jail and Prison Ministry (GNJPM) which ministers in 21 prisons in Kenya.

"We have 93 correctional facilities in the country but Good News has attached a chaplain to just 21," says Kihingu.

The former prisoner began the ministry in 2001 after preaching in Nairobi streets for some time.

"Good News was born on city streets when I was released from prison in June 1993," he recalls.

Targeting former inmates

Then, he started holding crusades at Machakos Country Bus and drew huge crowds.

"Some people were just curious to see this former prisoner turned preacher, while others genuinely listened to the gospel," he says.

After the crusades, former prisoners would approach him and express a wish to begin new life.

"They touched my heart. Some were my colleagues in prison and were worried that without help they would revert to crime," he says.

Kihingu during the interview with CCI. Photo/ Michael Oriedo/ Standard

Prisons’ ministry

However, not all preachers in GNJPM are former convicts. Of the 21, only five are ex-inmates while the rest come from different churches like the Pentecostal Church Valley Road, which the ministry partners with.

The ministry engages in counselling, corrective preaching, Bible studies and social life integration.

When counselling, Kihingu says, they urge inmates to confess and repent their crimes, though some of them will never own up their mistakes.

In social life integration, the ministry targets inmates who are about to complete jail terms.

"We teach them what to expect when they leave prison and how to cope. Most ex-prisoners find themselves in a crisis. The society treats them with a lot of cynicism. People do not believe they are truly reformed," says Rurii.

As part of the programme his team visits homes of inmates who are about to leave prison to prepare their families.

"Sometimes families accept them while others, still bitter about the crimes committed, warn of dire consequences," he notes.

Besides that, Good News also engages in an outreach programme where they make a follow-up on newly released inmates to see how they are adapting to life outside prisons.

"We encourage them to interact with people and utilise skills like carpentry and masonry which they learn in prison," says Kihingu.

Lois Wambui who preaches at Machakos Women’s Prison says inmates are a special kind of worshippers. Unlike in normal churches where pastors preach to people who have left their homes willingly and later give offerings, inmates attend services as part of prison routine.

"As a pastor you cannot expect any offerings. We give them items they need for example sanitary pads, just to show we care," she says. Kihingu says prison reforms instituted by former Vice President Mr Moody Awori have brightened lives of inmates.

"The changes helped to improve the quality of life in prisons. It is now easier for pastors to take care of inmates’ spiritual needs," he notes.

Future plans

However, he observes that prisons are highly congested.

"You find thousands of inmates at a single facility. You wonder how they fit in the cells. Magistrates should visit prisons to see how crammed they are before jailing petty offenders," he urges.

He says their records show 16,000 former prisoners have reformed and are engaging in meaningful activities. Of these about half are saved. He plans to build a multipurpose centre where former inmates can get assistance and better their skills once released.

"Some reformed criminals ask me to write them recommendation letters or act as a guarantor when they are seeking employment. I do it but still employers don’t trust former criminals. I hope that such a centre would assist ex-convicts," he says.

The father of two is also a pastor at Good News Mission Church in Nairobi’s Donholm Estate.