What I learned serving time for a crime I didn't commit | Teresa Njoroge

Summary

In this powerful narrative, Teresa Njoroge shares her journey from being falsely accused and convicted of a crime she did not commit to her transformation into an advocate for prison reform. After unknowingly handling a fraudulent transaction, she was wrongfully imprisoned for a year in Kenya's Langata Women’s Maximum Security Prison. During her time behind bars, she witnessed the systemic issues that entrap vulnerable women and decided to dedicate her life to helping them. Through her social enterprise, Clean Start, she offers skills training, support, and pathways for second chances, aiming to break the cycle of incarceration caused by poverty and injustice.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Teresa Njoroge, reflects on her wrongful conviction and the emotional and physical toll of being incarcerated.
• 😀 She was charged for handling a fraudulent transaction unknowingly, which led to her wrongful arrest and prosecution.
• 😀 Teresa was pressured to pay bribes multiple times during her legal battle but refused to do so, emphasizing the corruption within the justice system.
• 😀 Her experience in prison, particularly at Langata Women Maximum Security Prison, was a traumatic and dehumanizing process.
• 😀 Teresa describes the prison system as a place where many women are incarcerated due to systemic issues like poverty, lack of education, and limited economic opportunities.
• 😀 She highlights the role of corruption in criminal justice, where vulnerable individuals, especially those from poor backgrounds, are often scapegoated.
• 😀 After serving her sentence, Teresa founded Clean Start, a social enterprise aimed at helping women and girls who have been incarcerated reintegrate into society.
• 😀 Clean Start provides training, skills, and support to incarcerated individuals, with a focus on helping them transition back into society through job opportunities and vocational training.
• 😀 Teresa's story is a reflection of the broader issues within the criminal justice system, particularly for marginalized groups.
• 😀 Despite her wrongful conviction, Teresa was eventually cleared of all charges by the courts, symbolizing her victory over the system's injustices.
• 😀 Teresa's journey of personal healing and advocacy is grounded in the belief that justice and freedom can be restored, as exemplified by her son's name, Uhuru, meaning 'freedom.'

Q & A

What was the initial emotional response of the speaker upon being incarcerated?

The speaker felt confused, betrayed, overwhelmed, and silenced, struggling to understand how she had ended up in prison despite her background in the banking sector.

How did the speaker describe the circumstances that led to her wrongful conviction?

The speaker was accused of unknowingly handling a fraudulent transaction at the bank where she worked. Despite her innocence, she was maliciously charged and prosecuted, and her case was widely publicized.

What was the first bribe attempt made against the speaker, and how did she respond?

The arresting officer demanded a bribe of $10,000 to make the case disappear. The speaker refused to comply with this demand.

What was the second bribe demand, and how did the speaker react?

The authorities offered to rule in her favor if she paid $50,000, despite there being no evidence of her wrongdoing. The speaker again refused and continued to fight the case.

How did the speaker describe her experience on the day of her conviction?

The speaker recalls the cold and hard demeanor of the judge as she was sentenced for a crime she didn’t commit. Holding her three-month-old daughter, Oma, who was named for 'truth and justice,' made the moment even more painful.

What aspects of the prison experience did the speaker find most dehumanizing?

The speaker found the admission process, which involved being searched for contraband and stripped of her identity, deeply dehumanizing. She was reduced to a number, 415/11, and faced a rigid, soul-crushing routine.

What realization did the speaker come to after spending time with other women in prison?

The speaker realized that many of the women in prison were not criminals by choice but victims of systemic issues like the education system, lack of economic opportunities, and the broken criminal justice system.

How did the speaker’s experience in prison influence her future actions?

The speaker developed a burning conviction to address the injustices she witnessed in the criminal justice system, especially for women and girls, and founded Clean Start to help incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society.

What is Clean Start, and what is its mission?

Clean Start is a social enterprise created by the speaker to give incarcerated women and girls a second chance. The organization provides training, skills, and support to help them change their mindset, behaviors, and attitudes, and partners with corporations to offer job opportunities.

How does the speaker view the need for criminal justice reform?

The speaker is passionate about reforming the criminal justice system, particularly for marginalized groups who are trapped in a cycle of poverty and incarceration. She believes in the importance of providing second chances to those who have been wronged by the system.