Migori Man Painfully Narrates How Lending Friend Money Earned Him 10 Years in Prison
- Amos Simiyu thought he was helping a friend by lending him KSh 86,000, but that act of kindness turned into a nightmare
- Falsely accused, tortured, and sentenced to 20 years in prison, he spent over a decade behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit
- What the High Court finally uncovered will leave you heartbroken and questioning how many others are silently suffering behind bars
- Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, criminal justice expert Kevin Otieno blamed weak investigations, poor defence, and judicial gaps for Simiyu’s wrongful imprisonment
For Amos Simiyu, a simple act of kindness turned into a decade-long nightmare that robbed him of freedom, dignity, and time he will never recover.
Source: TikTok
In 2017, life had already dealt Simiyu a devastating blow. He had lost his entire family during the brutal post-election violence, their lives cut short when their home was set ablaze.
How much did Simiyu lend friend?
The grief was unbearable, but he held onto his faith, trying to rebuild in the quiet town of Bisil, Kajiado County.
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Amid his solitude, Simiyu extended a helping hand to a friend in need. He loaned him KSh 86,000, a substantial amount for a man still picking up the pieces of his life.
But when the time came for repayment, the friend turned hostile.
“He not only refused to pay me back but accused me of threatening him,” Simiyu recalls with a hollow gaze.
How Simiyu was framed
His world turned upside down the day police officers arrived at his door. They carried an ID card that didn’t belong to him and claimed he had sent a threatening message to the same friend.
Confused, Simiyu tried to explain, but his words fell on deaf ears. He was arrested on charges of threatening to kill and impersonation.
Thrown into remand, he endured conditions that he describes as “inhuman and torturous.” Isolated and terrified, he broke down under pressure.
“The torture became too much. I was broken. I thought if I admitted, they would let me go and give me a light sentence,” he says.
Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, criminal justice expert Kevin Otieno, expressed deep concern over the lapses that led to Amos Simiyu’s wrongful imprisonment. He emphasised that Simiyu’s case is not isolated, but rather a reflection of systemic weaknesses in Kenya’s lower courts and investigative processes.
Otieno noted that poor legal representation, under-resourced investigations, and unchecked judicial discretion often lead to grave miscarriages of justice.
“When someone serves more than triple the sentence prescribed by law, it is a clear failure of both the investigative and judicial arms. The fact that it took over ten years to correct such a blatant error should alarm every stakeholder in Kenya’s justice system,” he opined.
How long was Simiyu's prison sentence?
But the justice system was not so forgiving. Expecting perhaps a year behind bars, Simiyu was handed a 20-year sentence.
“I felt like my soul left my body,” he says quietly. With no lawyer, no resources, and no family left to turn to, he was forgotten in the system.
Years passed in silence and suffering. Yet, in the darkness of prison, Simiyu clung to hope through prayer.
“I prayed every day for a miracle. That someone, somewhere would listen,” he says.
That miracle came in the form of a police officer, one of the few who listened to his story and believed him. Touched by Simiyu’s ordeal, the officer offered to help him file an appeal for free.
Source: Facebook
High Court reviewed Simiyu's sentence
When Simiyu was finally brought before the High Court in Kajiado, the judge reviewed the case and made a shocking discovery: he was only meant to serve three years.
By then, Simiyu had already spent over 10 years behind bars. He walked out of prison a free man, but not without scars, emotional, psychological, and spiritual.
Now back in society, Simiyu is trying to rebuild once again, this time from the ashes of injustice.
“I forgave my friend. I had to,” he says. “But I hope one day the system learns to listen. Because there are so many like me, still locked up, praying for someone to believe them.”
Kenyans react to Amos Simiyu's plight
Here are some of the comments:
Lillie Lilly said:
"Most times, we become enemies of the people we have helped in the past. How unfair life can be. May He find justice."
Anthony Mwangi said:
"I still feel prosecutors don't do enough investigations; they just lock whoever they want."
Antonet Adhis said:
"This issue of helping people has landed me in trouble several times. I'll teach myself to be mean."
Ngugi Kim said:
"I tell the judiciary, especially at the magistrate level, is full of inefficient quack judges who can't render a fair and valid sentence. Surely, Simiyu, you have the right to sue the government...usiwache mambo hivyo."
Githurai man whose kids are in prison with wife given house
Elsewhere, a kind Kenyan living abroad was moved with compassion after coming across a viral and heartbreaking story on social media.
The well-wisher offered him a house after he was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt to help the victims of the tearjerking saga.
Kenyans on social media flocked to the comment section to share their views as they weighed in on the matter.
Racheal Nyagutie, HoD Human Interest, updated this article with reactions.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
