Near-death experience prompts Mombasa youth to quit crime, return to school

He has been described as a member of one of the criminal gangs in Ziwa la Ngombe area, Nyali, Mombasa County.

20-year-old Dennis Munyoki has confessed to being part of a notorious group of youth who have been involved in various crimes for the last three years, since he dropped out of school at Form 3 level. He narrowly escaped death by lynching and has decided to change course.

"Tulikuwa wengi lakini ile nyakati wenzangu wakakimbia nikabaki pekee yangu sasa wale mob waliponishika wakanipiga kwa bahati nzuri ama mbaya nikapata kuponyoka nikaingia kona kona na nikaponea hivyo," he recalls.

Zipporah Munyoki, Dennis’ mother, says: “Kuenda kwake polisi sikuwa najua maanake alikuwa anaenda kisirisiri, mi narauka usiku narudi usiku nikija nampata kwa simu nafanya kuambiwa na marafiki zake Dennis leo alikuwa ameshikwa. Nikimuuliza ananidanganya, alikuwa amepigana hakuwa ananiambia ameibia mtu simu."

Through well-wishers Josephine Mwikali and Abdulswamad Ali, he received counseling after it emerged that security agencies were pursuing him and a section of his gang members who remain at large.

"Tukaweza kufuatilia na tukamuuliza Dennis kwamba imefika hali hii hata wanakijiji wanakuogopa na maisha yako yako hatarini na tumehakikisha kuwa watu wanamuogopa maanake tuliongea na chifu akawa na wasiwasi tukaongea na police station ya Vienna wakawa na wasiwasi lakini ametueleza akitupa undertaking kwamba atabadilika,” says Abdulswamad.

Josephine, on her part, added: “Vijana wengi wanapotelea pale mtaani lakini unapofuata viongozi uwaeleze wengi hawatupi masikio yakusikiza."

Accompanied by police officers, they took him to a barber for a clean shave and proceeded to Maweni Chief’s office to formally surrender.

Chief Bernard Omolo, confirming that Dennis is a well-known gang member in the area, said he had been arrested before for stealing a mobile phone from one of the residents.

"Akija hivi mwenyewe inaonyesha kuwa ako serious na watu wengi wamekuja hivi tukaongea na wamekuwa watu wazuri katika society. Kwa hivyo Dennis akiamua kubadilika sioni kama kutakuwa na shida. Ni kijana mwerevu tutakuwa tumemsaidia kurekebisha future yake," said Omolo.

Citizen TV later proceeded to a school that accepted Dennis Munyoki after prolonged persuasion, as no other school was willing to take him in.

Thomas Abbot, the school principal, said: "Ni uwe unakuja shuleni lakini kama umekuja kubuy buy time yenye isimekane uko kwa shule ukimisbehave kule nje alafu uwe treated kama mwanafunzi hiyo sitakubali."

"Haya mambo ya kutokosa shule, kukosa nidhamu hautasikia kwa mtu yeyote kwa sababu nimekuja hapa, nimekuwa mwanafunzi mtiifu," Dennis stated.

Dennis has resumed his studies under close supervision by the school principal, well-wishers, security agencies, and his parent to ensure he completes his KCSE by the end of the year, three years after dropping out of school.