Man charged with robbery walks free after 24 years in prison
By Wangari Njuguna, October 27, 2025After spending 24 years behind bars, Peter Kihiu Mwaniki has gotten a new lease of life as he steps out into freedom, ready for a fresh start.
Mwaniki was sentenced to death when he was 22 years old after being charged with robbery with violence in 2002.
On Friday, October 24, 2025, he walked out of the Murang’a GK Prison, the last facility where he served the final years of his sentence.
Before his arrest and conviction, Mwaniki worked for an Indian employer in Nairobi, a man who trusted him deeply and even offered him a job and a place to live. However, youthful recklessness and bad influence led him astray.
Greed for money pushed him to steal from his boss, and together with his friends, they took items worth over Ksh2 million.
“We stole gold accessories, cameras, and dollars. Since my employer trusted me so much, I became the prime suspect, and he had me arrested,” said Mwaniki.
“The death sentence was devastating. I felt I had lost everything and had no hope of living,” he added.
He made his first appeal in 2005, but it was declined. In 2009, his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, which came as a huge relief.
In 2019, he made another appeal, and his sentence was reduced to ten years.
Journey of transformation
During his time in prison, Mwaniki embarked on a journey of transformation by pursuing education, which he believed would give him a second chance in life.
In his KCSE, he attained a mean grade of C plain and became one of the most educated inmates among his peers.
Through KASNEB, he studied accounting, commerce, and storekeeping, completing eight units within three years between 2002 and 2005. He also undertook theological and chaplaincy courses, which helped him grow spiritually and mentor fellow inmates.
In 2016, his determination caught the attention of Justice Defenders (formerly the African Prisons Project), a non-governmental organisation that sponsors inmates to pursue legal studies.
With their support, Mwaniki enrolled for a law degree at the University of London, taking classes through correspondence and virtual lectures. He graduated in 2023 alongside 27 other inmates from across the country a proud milestone for him.
“This is the biggest achievement so far. It has helped transform my life, and I am ready for a fresh start,” he remarked.
He hopes to join the Kenya School of Law to train as an advocate and become a certified lawyer. Mwaniki intends to use his legal knowledge to support inmates and marginalised people in their pursuit of justice.
Fully aware of the stigma associated with being an ex-convict, he appeals to members of the public to embrace him as a reformed person ready to serve society.
George Milanya, the Deputy Officer in Charge of Murang’a Prison, said Mwaniki sets an example for inmates who undergo transformation while in prison before being reintegrated into the community.
“Mwaniki has shown remarkable transformation both academically and behaviorally. He has been a role model to his fellow inmates,” remarked Milanya.
He noted that Murang’a Prison focuses on rehabilitating inmates through education and skills training, offering courses in masonry, carpentry, and farming, among others, according to their areas of interest.
Milanya said a probation officer had informed them that people from Nyandarua, Mwaniki’s home county, are ready to welcome him back, assuring that he will be safe once he returns home.