The ‘at risk youth’, who are mostly ex-convicts and reformed members of gang , face the harsh reality that the majority of people are unwilling to believe that they are changed.
Many a times they are rejected and left to suffer in the various local communities that they come from.
This is a gap that saw Nakuru-based Non-governmental organization MIDRIFT HURINET step in to bridge the gap through a Project dubbed Accelerated Response Initiative against Violent Extremism(ARIVE).
MIDRIFT HURINET is implementing the Project in with support from Act Change Transform-Act!, and GCERF.
The Project has seen community engagements with ex-convicts, and reformed gang members in various sub-counties of Nakuru among the Nakuru East and Nakuru West where issues of organized gangs posed a threat to security.
According to MIDRIFT HURINET Programs’ Coordinator Walter Mwania, they are working closely with stakeholders from affirmative funds to ensure the lot is taken through financial literacy training, linkages to various funds and business opportunities.
Mwania was speaking on Friday February 16, 2024 during a second engagement meeting for the ex-prisoners and reformed gang members held in Nakuru.
“As we meet here, we are grateful that majority have formed groups with an aim of accessing the funds towards their socio-economic empowerment,” stated Mwania.
He added that talks are on with Prison Department to see how the ex-convicts can be assisted as majority have skills but they lack lack tools or capital for starting businesses.
He added that the ongoing engagements are aimed at addressing vulnerability among youth, which according to him if not addressed will lead to the young people being ‘at risk’ of joining radicalized groups such as Alshabab and other outlawed criminal groups such confirm gang etc.
It should be noted, since inception in Nakuru, ARIVE Project has so far reached more than 300 youth at risk from Nakuru East and Nakuru West Sub Counties.
“We shall reach out to more in other remaining 9 sub-counties. We are working with local administrators among them chiefs and their assistants to ensure mapping out the most ‘at risk’ youth towards their socio-economic empowerment,” added Mwania.
And to prove the impact of the ARIVE Project, famousnakuru.co.ke had the opportunity of interacting with various youth and individuals who are ex-convicts and reformed members of ‘youth at risk’.
The story of Mr.Joseph Kikwoi is a touching one- from ex-convict to a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Joseph narrates that it was in May, 1997 during a drinking spree with friends when things went awkward following a misunderstanding.
What followed is him hitting a friend with a bottle of liquor.
Little did he know this would land him in Prison.
The friend was rushed to hospital but unfortunately he died leading to his arrest.
“I was arrested and charged with manslaughter. Judgment was issued by a Nakuru court in 2015 and I was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment,” he states.
Joseph says he served 8 years and 2 months of sentence before his prayer to be released was considered just some three months to the completion of his sentence.
For him, life in a prison though he had no freedom, he had several introspections that saw him quit alcohol, in what he thanks the pastoral department at the Prison.
It is also during his stay in prison, that he learnt various courses among carpentry and psychology counseling as well as theology.
“While in prison I learnt carpentry and attained grade 1, I also did Theology Diploma, and Psychological Counseling,” he states.
The now preacher of the Gospel in Njoro Sub county is grateful to the Almighty God for the transformation in his life.
He points out that he was well received in society from prison adding that MIDRIFT HURINET stepped in through the ARIVE Project where he was also trained.
Joseph currently runs a workshop where he has also employed 3 youth.
“I keep on mentoring young people. Crime is not good,” are his patting shot as he also calls on young people to quit alcohol that he says led to his imprisonment.
On the other hand, David Gisaro’s group from Flamingo Estate is a beneficiary of ARIVE Project by MIDRIFT HURINET.
In an interview with famousnakuru.co.ke, he points out that they started the group dubbed Group 032 during the COVID-19 pandemic to help address the issue of teenage pregnancy and crime in society.
“We started with dancing activities to keep our girls busy though the group with a membership of 86 has youthful boys too,” states David.
While pointing out that the issue of criminal activities of the outlawed confirm gang was a threat in society, he says this saw them incorporate more youth to avert them engaging in such.
After receiving training from MIDRIFT HURINET, the group is now engaging in socio-economic empowerment activities such as dancing and art work.
“This year we want our group to be more vibrant through dancing activities and whatever we get when hired shall be used to help our young people through Education support with uniforms here and there,” he says.
Sentiments echoed by Charles Sangale who serves as the teacher in the group engaging the youth in dancing, skate, and basketball among other artistic activities.
Charles who admits that he almost messed up his life while in Form 2, says with counseling he was able to reconstruct again.
“I almost messed up in 2019, but in 2022 I reconstructed and chose the positive track in life,” he says.
He is quick to note that the group has had challenges but with the training and support from MIDRIFT HURINET, they are able to address the same as their minds are now open.
Sentiments echoed by David who says the training is platform for interaction with other people who have new ideas.
The script is similar for Joel Mburu who is the Treasurer Inuka Reformed Youth Group from Flamingo Ward of Nakuru East Sub county.
He says, the estate has had challenges of rivalry criminal groups and that is what necessitated the formation of the group.
“We started this group to help give a platform for young people who would like to reform,” says Joel.
In an interview, he reveals that they are currently engaged in pig farming, as well as car wash businesses. In addition, the group has also won a tender in garbage collection in the area.
To him, such activities are key in empowerment of ghetto youth.
On the training received from MIDRIFT HURINET, Joel notes that it has helped open the youth in ghetto to better opportunities including how to access affirmative funds.
Meanwhile, a mention of Mauki and WaTZ in Rhonda Nakuru West, adrenalin runs in the veins.
These are groups that have been at rivalry for many years.
However, a group dubbed Creative Business and Xtravaganza-CBX Navigators is working to end such through creative field.
Evans Juma-an artist and member of the group says their theme is to navigate and help youth through art.
“We formed the group at Mauki Centre to help navigate and help our youth shun crime and maintain peace,” he says.
According to him, art is a key component of maintaining peace and ensuring stability.
Juma who is also a beneficiary of ARIVE Project by MIDRIFT HURINET, says through socio-economic empowerment training, young ladies within the group are now able to engage in bead work and making ear-rings that in turn save them with coins for sustainability.
The group members are also engaged in scripting art towards shaping society and end criminal activities.
“Youth in slum areas should shun crime. Wajitume as street always wins and pays,” he says.
These are just but a representation of many ‘youth at risk’ who have undergone training under Accelerated Response Initiative Against Violent Extremism (ARIVE) project in Nakuru.
The youth had been capacity-strengthened on financial literacy, group dynamics, table banking and linkages to Government affirmative funds under the project a while ago.
Some of them have opened chicken-rearing businesses, goat-keeping and honey selling.
Many expressed willingness to reform saying, “Crime Si Poa, Form ni Kureform”
Author: Pristone Mambili
A trained Journalist with passion for Radio and online Writing.