- Joseph Wafula, a 52-year-old man from Bungoma, spent nearly three decades in prison for a crime he says he did not commit
- Wafula emotionally shared how he was jailed and handed a harsh sentence after agreeing to accompany his close friend to a wedding
- A few years after their imprisonment, he recounted how his friend passed away under painful circumstances
A 52-year-old man from Mchuma Village in Bungoma County has shared the painful story of how he ended up in prison, where he spent nearly three decades for a crime he insists he never committed.
Source: Youtube
In an emotional interview with Itugi TV, the father of one narrated how his life changed completely after trusting one of his friends.
Wafula explained that he dropped out of school while in Form Three because his mother could not afford his school fees following the death of his father.
Instead, she took him to a driving school, a decision that later shaped his career as a driver. He eventually secured a job as a lorry driver ferrying goods to Mombasa and Uganda for a woman from their locality.
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“I worked for that woman for two years before relocating to Nairobi, where I found a job as a forklift driver for a company within the city. I earned KSh 1,500 per day and even received overtime,” he explained.
With his experience and steady income, he built a good life with his wife and child while working hard to support his family.
How did Joseph Wafula end up in jail?
The 52-year-old narrated that one day he visited a hotel owned by one of his friends, identified as Makau, together with his wife to relax and spend time together.
They had become friends because he frequently visited the restaurant and had also bonded with other people there.
According to Wafula, one of the men later informed him that he had a wedding to attend and asked him to help drive one of the vehicles they would use for the trip.
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His wife was sceptical about the request and urged him not to go, but he ignored her concerns and left with his friends on the agreed date.
“My friends mocked me, saying I needed permission from my wife, so out of ego I decided to go. We fuelled the car and began the journey to Matuu, where they planned to spend the night, attend the wedding, and return the following day,” he recalled.
Wafula travelled alone in one car while the three friends used another vehicle.
A few kilometres before reaching their destination, they were stopped at a roadblock, where he was handcuffed and arrested.
It later emerged that the vehicles had allegedly been stolen and their owners had already reported the matter to the police.
Was Bungoma man sentenced to death?
Following his arrest, Wafula said he was tortured and pressured into admitting that he had stolen the vehicle as the case progressed.
Despite repeatedly pleading his innocence and explaining that he knew nothing about the alleged theft, he was taken to court and eventually sentenced to death after being found guilty of robbery with violence.
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For more than 20 years, he remained in prison before successfully appealing to have his sentence reduced from death to life imprisonment.
He was eventually released and forced to rebuild his life from scratch after discovering that his wife had remarried.
“I do not wish to interfere with her marriage. All I want is to be part of my daughter’s life. I hear she lives with her grandparents, and I would like to care for her and finally meet her again since I left her when she was still a toddler,” he said emotionally.
How did Wafula’s friend die?
The father of one noted that although they had all been arrested, they faced different charges.
Two of the men served shorter sentences and were later released, while his friend Makau died in prison.
“He received news that his wife had sold his property and house. He became deeply distressed, hit his head against the prison walls, suffered internal bleeding, and later died. The other two served about six years in prison and were eventually released,” he claimed.
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Baringo man jailed for 20 years released
In other news, NgGossips reported that Amos Sikuku Simiyu found himself imprisoned after sending a harsh message to his friend.
After 20 years behind bars, he was released and explained that he sent the message while upset after his friend requested KSh 86,000 from him but went silent after receiving assistance.
The man from Baringo said his time in jail cost him a lot, including his family, but he was relieved after being set free.
Source: NgGossips
