'Accept me': Woman locked up for white collar crime speaks of struggle finding place outside prison

However, a new reality hit her as she tried to reintegrate within the society – she faced rejection and was treated like a pariah, a second-class citizen who could not be trusted because of her background in prison.

Anguru, who hails from Kiminini constituency in Bungoma county, was imprisoned in 2021 for obtaining property by false pretences, a ‘white collar crime’, but a crime, nonetheless that leaves one with a tainted reputation.

Speaking during a forum to call for positive reintegration of former inmates, Anguru urged members of the public to support them and give them another chance at life as long as they are dedicated to following the law and being productive members of the society.

The forum, held on Friday, was attended by prisons officers, judicial officers and members of the clergy fromBungoma county.

On her stay in prison, Anguru narrated, “I felt like my world had turned dark when I was taken to prison. I thought my world had ended. However, I was counselled by the clergy and prisons officers on accepting my reality.”

Anguru says before she was taken to prison, she spent more than a year in remand and once in prison, she was stationed at the industry department.

“I accepted myself and my state and did my best while in the department, learning all the skills I could. I also learnt how to plait hair and make dresses and I am glad to say that I learnt something while in prison,” she said.

Anguru, however, urged people to be law-abiding citizens to avoid finding themselves in prison because it changes the course of one’s life.

Ann Asionyi, an assistant director of probation services, knows all too well what former inmates face when trying to reintegrate in the society.

Asionyi, who happens to be a relative of Anguru, said it is important to accept the former inmates as many have reformed and gained skills while they were behind bars.

On her part, Philis Chida, a prisons officer, encouraged people to follow the law, but not give up on life if they are convicted.

“It’s not the end of the world if you go to jail. It’s not an easy life, however, there is always a silver lining in every cloud,” she said.

Chida went on, “Don’t use derogatory terms to refer to former inmates. They have reformed and are remorseful and need the support of the society.”