Report from Kibos Prison, Kenya.

From the Revd Sandy Shaw, Chaplain HMP Inverness.

This was such a remarkable visit to Kibos Prison that I must record it.

We arrived at Kibos Prison at 10a.m. and met with the Officer in Charge - the Governor.

Prison Officers only receive 11,000 Shillings per month - remember there are 107 Shillings to the Pound - and they stay in very very poor accommodation - FOUR families to ONE HOUSE! - It is 'free' but at what a price!

The first Service of Worship was with the condemned men - over 200 attended. The Chaplain opened the Service - and then their own prisoner Pastor prayed and spoke.  He was excellent.

Prisoners then gave brief testimonies - I wrote as fast as I could.  

The first man dressed in his 'zebra' suit - spoke of how he found Jesus Christ in prison.  He was forgiven and set free from all the bad things he had done. "Jesus Christ has done for me what not even my mother could have done for me!" he said.  I have never heard such a powerful testimony.

The second 'lifer' on death row spoke saying: "All my plans all my life were to commit crimes.   Being arrested has brought blessings into my life.  I have received a wonderful thing in this prison - Jesus Christ. I am convinced that this is true" - and he quoted from 2^nd Timothy 2: 9 - I am imprisoned for the rest of my life but the 'Word of God is not imprisoned'. I meet with all the forgiven, saved, and 'born again' people regularly. You are visitors - such visitors are like cold water to me - to refresh me."

A third 'lifer' spoke: "I was a sinner. I could not talk like this before 200 men, not before I was arrested and came to Jesus Christ. I pray. I know that the Bible says in Romans 10. 9 that 'if you confess with your mind that Jesus is Lord you will be saved!'  And I read in Psalm 23 that when I will pass through the valley one day GOD will be with me. Some of my former friends would not like to see me standing here testifying to Jesus Christ.  He has washed me and has forgiven me."

Number four arose - (none of these men were primed beforehand) - "I was chased from my home because of my crime - I was a sinner - I killed people - and took drugs.  Jesus Christ has saved me and rescued me.   Jesus Christ has given me eternal life."  Officers and guards were present with guns.

A fifth man sentenced to death arose - "I am 'happy' in the prison here - because I heard The Word of God here.    My dad tried to kill me.  I then went and killed.   God opened my ears and my heart."  He then quoted from Psalm 119:67&71 :-

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.  It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn your decrees."

Then the Pastor in the prison - a prisoner himself - spoke - and introduced the choir of 12; their singing in harmony was astonishingly beautiful.  

I then spoke - from Jesus' words in Matthew 24 - about standing to the end - about those who are faithful to the end being saved.  "Be faithful." I spoke of how I too was a prisoner - a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 

We then went from this Cell Block of 'condemned men' - to speak with those who had committed lesser crimes - again some 200 were present - sitting under the trees.   There was an excellent listening.    If  last week in the slums of Nairobi I had one of the worst experiences of my life - this must rate as one of the finest. 

The Officers and Guards were so co-operative - and they are paid so very poorly.

I simply write this to record the facts of a most remarkable experience about six miles outside Kisumu Kenya.