Nairobi, Kenya – Sunday, September 14, 2024: Veteran journalist Caleb Atemi has lifted the lid on harrowing experiences during his time behind bars, offering a rare glimpse into the brutality, fear, and survival tactics of prison life in Kenya.
In excerpts from his forthcoming memoir Kabaa: A Prisoner’s Cry, posted in a series of Facebook posts, Atemi recounts chilling encounters with convicted killers, brushes with death, and moments of unexpected kindness that shaped his two-year incarceration.
The journalist, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison on August 31, 2023, before eventually regaining his freedom in October 2024, says his life behind bars was marked by constant fear and spiritual resilience.
Confrontation with a Serial Killer
One of the most shocking revelations in his account is a near-death encounter with a notorious inmate named Omong’ina, a remandee facing nine murder charges. According to Atemi, Omong’ina cornered him in a cell, pulled out a crude dagger, and threatened to “taste a billionaire’s blood” before prison authorities intervened.
“He pressed me against the wall and told me he wanted my blood. I knew I stood no chance,” Atemi recalls. The terrifying moment ended only when a prison block captain entered the room, forcing the serial killer to hide the weapon.
Interview with Lawrence Waruinge
Atemi also reveals that he spent time speaking with convicted mass murderer Lawrence Waruinge, who in 2021 killed five members of his family. Waruinge, according to Atemi, showed him handwritten notes of a book he was writing and confessed his deep involvement with cults, claiming his killings were part of a “revenge mission” and cult initiation process.
The encounter, Atemi says, left him shaken when Waruinge hinted that “blood calls for more blood” and laughed off suggestions of remorse.
Visit by Kalonzo Musyoka
Amid the horrors, Atemi also experienced moments of hope. He describes how his long-time friend, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, visited him at the facility. Musyoka, together with lawyer Albert Simiyu, delivered legal documents, food supplies, and encouragement as they prepared an appeal.
“Kalonzo told me, ‘I want you out of this place next month,’” Atemi writes, recalling how the former Vice President promised to laugh at their prison photo together once he was freed.
Life Lessons Behind Bars
Despite what he calls “sadistic” treatment from some wardens, Atemi credits others with showing humanity in the darkest environment. “Some officers treated us with respect and dignity. They reminded me that power fades, influence fades, but kindness echoes forever,” he notes.
He also reflects on the role of faith during his time in confinement, saying prison is a place where “Satan and God live side by side.” According to him, even in the face of cultism, violence, and despair, many inmates turn to prayer and fasting.
Release and Freedom
On October 14, 2024, Atemi walked out of prison a free man after the High Court overturned his conviction. He describes his release as surreal, saying it took him weeks to adjust to life outside after months of brutality, hunger, and fear.
“When I finally walked free, I kept waiting to shrug off the dream of freedom. Slowly, I realized there would be no more boots, no more whips, no more broken bones and shattered skulls. I was back in the world where normalcy and joy co-exist,” he reflects.
A Window Into Kenya’s Prison System
Atemi’s forthcoming book, Kabaa: A Prisoner’s Cry, offers a rare insider perspective into Kenya’s prison system — a world he describes as a “hot pot of evil and godliness.” His revelations expose both the cruelty of prison life and the resilience required to endure it.
For the veteran journalist, survival came through faith, friendship, and the belief that freedom was always within reach.
