At just 28 years old, Pete Ouko from Kiambu was sentenced to death in 2001 for the murder of his wife—a crime he always insisted he never committed.
For nearly two decades, Pete lived behind the walls of Kamiti Maximum Prison, spending eight years on death row. Yet, instead of giving in to despair, he turned his prison sentence into an opportunity.
Against all odds, Pete became the first Kenyan inmate to graduate with a Diploma in Law. His achievement inspired not only fellow prisoners but also the outside world, proving that knowledge can bloom even in the darkest places.
While in prison, he also founded Crime Si Poa, a mentorship program designed to steer young people away from crime and into better life choices.
In 2016, after 18 years, his conviction was overturned, and Pete walked out a free man. Instead of anger, he carried with him a mission—to fight for justice reform and campaign for the abolition of the death penalty in Kenya.
“Freedom is not just about leaving prison. It’s about ensuring no one else suffers the pain I endured,” Pete says, embodying resilience and hope.
