How Kamiti prisoners spent Valentine’s Day

Jail bars cannot stop the spread of love.

That was the message delivered on Thursday as inmates at the Kamiti Maximum Prison beat Kiambu PCEA church 6-0 in a one-sided match staged at the dusty, but vast prison grounds.

Eric “Crouch” Salim, formerly of Ofafa Jericho High School, scored a double as Felix “Kagere” Ochieng, Collins Omondi and Lawrence “Mwas” Mwangi accounted for a goal each to dispatch the visitors home empty handed.

This was the first time the inmates were enjoying a Valentine’s Day program, and the players were allowed time to interact with their families and friends, who formed a sizeable cheering squad that livened things up and diffused the tension at the heavily guarded venue.

Through the recently formed Kamiti Inmates Football Association (KIFA), the inmates took part in a seven-aside football tournament dubbed “Love and Hope Behind Bars”, which had been organised specifically for Valentine’s Day.

“Interacting with other people is very good and makes us feel very appreciated. It reminds us that someone is thinking about us,” said Salim, who is in for life after his football career was cut shot eight years ago, just after emerging MVP at the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term Two Games.

Salim and his team of youthful players were coached by ex-AFC Leopards coach Moses Opula and ex-Mathare United forward Tedium Rodgers, who were the founders of the team, but who have since retired from active football.

Rodgers was visited by his 22 year old son, Paul, who exuded hope that his father, who was sentenced to life when he was just four years old, would be free before Christmas.

“Based on how the court proceedings are going on and his record for the two decades he has been here, I believe that this is the last time I am coming here to see him. I think next time he is the one who will come to visit me at my home,” said Paul Nduati, who had come to see his father who has been incarcerated for 18 years.

The tournament was organised by Kiarie Mwangi, who is an independent community based worker, whose mission is to improve the lives of prisoners.

“My main aim is to bring love, faith and hope to these inmates. Many of them are my friends and as I wait for them to be integrated back to society, I try give them hope and to ensure that they have as much contact with the outside world as possible, while also ensuring that they keep their footballing talents alive,” Mwangi said.

Mwangi was joined by representatives from Nairobi County Government through Governor Mike Sonko, who presented badminton rackets and playing kits for the inmates.

Kamiti Maximum prison currently holds about 2200 inmates.