A young Kenyan man is rebuilding his life after spending more than a year in prison for a crime he says he did not commit, following a dramatic court reversal that exposed a grave miscarriage of justice.
Edwin Gathigi was a Form Four student when his life took a dark turn during the December 2023 school holidays.
While visiting his grandparents in Mukurweini, Nyeri County, he was summoned late at night and accused of raping his younger cousin.
He denied the allegation and offered to undergo medical tests to prove his innocence.
Edwin later recalled that the accusation deeply shocked him, saying the thought of committing such an act was horrifying and completely against his character.
He stated that he immediately denied the claim and informed his family that he was willing to undergo any medical examination to clear his name.
Despite his plea, the matter was reported to police and quickly moved to court. On January 22, 2025, the Mukurweini Magistrates Court found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Edwin was taken to Kingongo Prison in Nyeri, where he said prison life was harsh and emotionally draining.
He explained that imprisonment made him feel like a walking dead person, alive physically but broken inside, with no control over his life.
While in custody, Edwin worked at the prison dispensary, where he discovered a passion for nursing.
After appealing the conviction, hope finally returned. On January 21, 2026, Nyeri High Court Judge DKN Magare overturned the ruling and ordered his release.
The long legal battle drained the family financially and forced Edwin to defer his studies. Still, he remains hopeful.
He said his desire is to return to school and pursue his dream career.
Today, Edwin is free and healing, choosing forgiveness and slowly piecing his life back together after an experience that changed him forever.
