Joseph Kimeu on Citizen TV's Shajara na Lulu show.
Joseph Kimeu’s story is a powerful example of how life’s unexpected turns can lead to significant challenges. His journey from a hopeful young man to a prisoner reflects both personal struggles and broader societal issues.
Joseph was born in Naivasha, Kenya, into a modest family. He had two siblings and was raised primarily by his sister and her husband, who supported his education. Despite their efforts, Joseph felt mistreated and, seeking a better life, he left home to live on the streets.
Life on the streets was incredibly tough. Joseph’s decision to leave home was driven by a desire for better living conditions and food. On the streets, he and others like him often found food in the dustbins of hotels.
They would clean the discarded food and eat it. Although it was a struggle, Joseph managed to survive, but the harsh conditions pushed him towards using drugs to cope with the cold and other hardships.
One day, while searching for food in a dustbin, Joseph stumbled upon a mobile phone. Not knowing who it belonged to or how it ended up in the trash, he took it and inserted his SIM card, starting to use it. This seemingly small action would lead to a life-altering situation.
A week later, while Joseph was out with his friends, the police stopped them. They asked Joseph if he was indeed Joseph Kimeu and then informed him that the phone he was using had been reported stolen.
Joseph tried to explain that he had found the phone and didn’t know its history. The police, however, were not convinced. They asked him to name the people who had stolen the phone, but Joseph could only say he had found it alone. This lack of cooperation led to his arrest.
Joseph’s life took a dramatic turn as he was sentenced to eight years in prison. The transition from street life to prison life was brutal. He was immediately assigned to clean the toilets and bathrooms, a grueling task that left him exhausted.
The prison environment was harsh and abusive. Inmates sometimes used a drug called ragatin to incapacitate others and sexually assault them. Joseph fell victim to this horrific practice once.
After eating contaminated food, he felt drowsy and was taken to the infirmary. Thankfully, he was not assaulted, but the incident left him shaken and fearful.
In prison, Joseph learned about the dark side of inmate dynamics. He found that food was often used as a way to manipulate and control prisoners.
If an inmate accepted food from another, it could lead to being “married off” or molested. Gaining weight made someone more vulnerable, as it was seen as a sign of being easy prey.
Despite the suffering, Joseph tried to make the best of his situation. He learned various skills such as shoemaking, baking, making aluminum cooking pots, and painting. These skills not only helped him survive but also gave him hope for the future.
After serving his eight-year sentence, Joseph was released with deep emotional and physical scars. He struggled to rebuild his life and provide for his three children.
He continued to pick up scraps and metals from the roadside to make ends meet. The experiences he went through have left him with a profound sense of the hardships faced by those who fall through society’s cracks.
His journey from a hopeful young man to a street dweller and finally to a prisoner shows how easily life can spiral out of control.
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