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Nigerian TikToker who spent 1 month in Shimo La Tewa prison reveals what led to his arrest
24th August, 2026 07:37 AM
Kenya-based Nigerian TikToker Olanrewaju Olayemi has spoken for the first time about the circumstances that led to his arrest and subsequent detention at Shimo La Tewa Maximum Prison, where he spent one month after overstaying his Kenyan visa.
In a TikTok post on Sunday, August 23, 2026, Olayemi said the ordeal happened in 2022 when he was living in Nairobi and knowingly remained in the country after his visa had expired, promising himself that he would regularise his status at a later date.
“In 2022, I was living peacefully in Nairobi. I knew my visa had expired and it is illegal to live without a valid document. But I kept telling myself I would sort it later,” he said.
Olayemi said the situation changed when his brother travelled to Kenya, prompting him to make plans to welcome him in Mombasa before the two returned to Nairobi.
“The plan? Welcome him, tour Mombasa for a bit because it was my first time visiting too, then head back to Nairobi together,” he said.
However, shortly after his brother landed, immigration officers approached Olayemi, who said they were not wearing uniforms.
“After he landed, immigration officers came with him and approached me. They were not wearing uniforms. They asked for my passport. I gave it to them,” he said.
According to Olayemi, he was soon informed that immigration officials had discovered that he had overstayed his visa by three months.
“A few minutes later, I was told I had overstayed my visa with three months. There was no negotiation, no excuse,” he said.
He said he was immediately taken into a holding cell while his brother was allowed to leave.
“They allowed my brother to leave without me. I gave him my key and directed him to find his way to my house in Nairobi,” Olayemi said.
Life inside Shimo La Tewa
Olayemi said his first night behind bars was particularly difficult, but an encounter with another inmate helped change how he approached his situation.
“My first night there, another inmate told me: ‘One month will pass quickly. Save your money for your flight home instead.’ That advice changed everything,” he said.
He said the experience forced him to confront the reality of losing his freedom and left him spending long nights reflecting on how his circumstances had changed so quickly.
“Shimo La Tewa was not just a prison. It was where I spent long nights staring into the darkness, asking myself: ‘How did I end up here?’” he said.
Olayemi said the experience gave him a new appreciation of freedom.
“For the first time, I truly understood the value of freedom,” he said.
After spending 30 days in prison, Olayemi said he was released with a changed perspective on life and the decisions that had brought him there.
“Thirty days later, I walked out with a different mindset,” he said.
Deportation
Olayemi said his ordeal did not end immediately after his release from prison, as he was still required to leave Kenya.
He said he was given another choice on how he would return home: either wait for the government to arrange his repatriation or purchase his own ticket.
“And I was given another choice: wait for government repatriation or buy my own ticket,” he said.
Reflecting on the experience years later, Olayemi said he did not blame Kenya for what happened to him, acknowledging that his detention followed his violation of the country’s immigration rules.
“Kenya did not fail me. I broke Kenya’s immigration rules,” he said.
He said the experience ultimately taught him a lesson about respecting the laws of countries where he travels or resides.
“That experience taught me to respect every country’s laws,” Olayemi said.
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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