After a quarter-century behind bars, Simon Lokwachelia, who was sentenced to death following his conviction on five counts of robbery with violence by a Nanyuki Court, has finally regained his freedom.
Lokwachwelia, now 49 years old, was released from Rumuruti GK Prison on Sunday, successfully navigating a series of appeals aimed at revising his sentence.
Back on April 13, 2000, Lokwachwelia was pronounced guilty of the charges by the then Nanyuki Senior Resident Magistrate S.M. Kibunja. Since then, he has been imprisoned while seeking to appeal the verdict.
The ordeal began in 1998 when he was arrested in the Subukia area of Nakuru County and charged for crimes he vehemently denies any involvement in. At the time of his arrest, Lokwachwelia was en route to find his girlfriend, with whom he planned to marry.
Unbeknownst to him, the car he hitched a ride with at Gatundia trading centre had been stolen, and Nanyuki law enforcement were in pursuit of the criminals. Upon reaching Subukia trading centre, Lokwachwelia and his companion excused themselves from the vehicle, leaving him alone inside. It was at this moment that security officers swooped in, brandishing firearms. Despite surrendering, Lokwachwelia had no information on the whereabouts of his companions, as he was unaware of their criminal intent.
His legal battle endured until 2019 when his appeals reached Justice H.P.B Waweru. The sentences handed down for the five counts were commuted from death row to a 35-year jail term, with the sentences to run concurrently as per section 296 (2) of the Penal Code. The sentences were retroactively counted from his initial sentencing date on April 13, 2000.
Now, after years of tireless efforts to establish his innocence, Lokwachwelia emerges from prison as a resilient man, equipped with a Grade-1 Mechanical Engineering skillset.
The Deputy Officer in charge of the prison, Senior Superintendent of Prisons (SSP) Justus Akhanyinya, appealed to the local community not to abandon or stigmatize their convicted family members. He urged against discriminating against ex-convicts, emphasizing the importance of aiding them in reconnecting with their families upon release.
Akhanyinya called on the community to contribute to the government’s efforts in rehabilitating and enhancing the lives of former prisoners as they reintegrate into society. He highlighted that the government provides inmates with diverse job skills during their imprisonment to ensure a smooth transition upon completing their sentences.
