– In 1998 Joel Kabari was arrested alongside other two friends over theft with violence
– They were all sentenced to death but in 2009 former president Mwai Kibaki reviewed the sentence to life imprisonment
– While in prison, Kabari underwent training to become Catholic catechist and recorded great behavioral change
– In 2018, he applied for review of his sentence which saw him walk to freedom after court ruled in his favour on December 19
– On Saturday, December 28, a mass was held at his home village as Kabari was handed over to his family
NAKURU-(MaraviPost)-There was a moment of joy and celebration in Ndege Ndimu Farm in Lanet, Nakuru county, after a 46-year-old man who was sentenced to death 21 years ago returned home as a catechist.
On Saturday, December 28, it was song and dance as officers from the Kenya Prisons and clerics from the Catholic Church handed over Joel Kabari Kimani to his family.
Joel Kabari, 46, (left) feeding his mothe Hannah Njeri with cake during her 69th birthday. Photo: Daily Nation
Kabari, who was aged 25 at that time, alongside other two accomplices were sentenced to death in 1998 after they were found guilty of theft with violence.
“We were three of us. We attacked a Nakuru businessman David Kahiga who ran an alcohol depot in Nakuru town. We robbed him of some cash. I was arrested the same day. My friends were arrested days later. I regret having done so,” said Kabari.
One of them appealed the court’s decision and was released some years ago after he was handed a shorter sentence.
“One of them appealed and succeeded. He was handed a shorter sentence and was released years ago. My other friend and I were left waiting for the hangman. We were moved to Kamiti Maximum Prison,” said Kabari.
He was to be hanged but spent over 11 years waiting for his day with the hangman but in 2009 the death sentence was later reviewed to life imprisonment by former president Mwai Kibaki.
While in prison, Kabari enrolled for training as a Catholic catechist which he completed successfully and started converting other inmates.
Joel Kabari Kimani being hugged by Sister Cecilia Wangare Karuri at their home at Ndege Ndimu Farm. Photo: Daily Nation
He recorded an impressive behavioural change record, which saw him be put in charge of other inmates.
“He became a serious man of God. Through him, he helped in the transformation of many inmates who have since been baptised. He also led the inmates in the construction of a first church within the Naivasha Prison,” said Nakuru GK Prison Superintendent George Odera.
The Supreme Court in December 2018 did away with the death sentence and allowed at least 400 convicts to apply for re-sentencing starting 2019.
The court placed conditions for re-sentencing, among them the rehabilitation success of an inmate based on reports from the prison management.
Kabri applied for review of his sentence on December 19, 2019, after asking for forgiveness from the complainant Kahiga.
Justice Joel Ngugi who went through reports from the prisons and a statement from the complainant, ruled in his favour and ordered his release back into society.
A Holy Mass to celebrate his freedom was presided over by Father Paul Miring’u which coincided with his mother’s, Hannah Njeri, 69th birthday.
Njeri was emotional as she hugged her only son for the first time in 21 years as a free man.
“I couldn’t get a better birthday gift than holding my son in my hands again… We are ready to help him restart his life,” said Njeri.
The priest handed over the church offerings to Kabari to help him start off his life as a man of God.
“The offerings that have been given out by the people in this mass, I give to you as a way of helping you begin your life. We shall be there for you as a church and we hope the society to emulate the same,” said Father Miring’u.
The ex-convict disclosed he has no plans of marrying any time soon and that his only priority is to pick up his life from where he left it.
Source: Tuko
