Kenya's entertainment scene boasts a lot of talented personalities who hail from various backgrounds, some of them posh, some of them rough.
In this segment, Nairobileo.co.ke looks at the life of Ghetto Radio presenter Nicholas Cheruiyot Kilel alias King Kafu, whose past life makes for a perfect inspiration story.
He hosts the morning breakfast show Brekko alongside veteran musician Maji Maji from 6 am to 10 pm.
File image of King Kafu. |Photo| Coutesy|
During an interview on April 14, 2018, on The Chipukeezy Show, Kafu narrated his past doings, noting that he is not proud of the life he led.
He revealed that he was an armed robber and committed multiple crimes to make ends meet.
"I was wrongly convicted of a crime I did not commit, so I reasoned, since crime or no crime I would still end in jail, why not get jailed for a crime I actually committed," Kafu stated.
One morning in 2002, he and his brother were arrested alongside nine others on the accusation that one of them had robbed a journalist of his camera.
While at the Pangani Police Station, the sports journalist identified him as the thief and he spent six months at the Industrial Area Police cells before his brother located the thief.
"As I served my term, my other brother found out who had committed the crime, reported and had them arrested, but that did not mean freedom for us. Juacali’s brother later bailed me out on cash bail," Kafu recounted.
His brother also served time in jail but died shortly after his release due to complications from an illness he had contracted in jail.
When he was set free, Kafu was propelled by the anger of wrongful incarceration and the death of his brother to dive into a life of crime.
Together with an old friend, they began snatching valuables from unsuspecting members of the public.
After a series of robberies, they scaled it up and acquired a gun which they used to terrorise unsuspecting Kenyans.
"I linked up with a friend with whom we attended jam sessions and started snatching people’s bags; chains, watches, wallets you name it.
"I felt the need to upgrade. My team and I shifted our focus to the use of guns for carjackings. The gun we had, had been given to me by a friend. The gun had a faulty firing pin and could not actually fire any bullets but inflicting the fear was enough,
"Besides carjacking, we would raid fundraising events. Once we collect the spoils, we would share out among the team with me as the leader taking the lion’s share," he narrated.
Kafu revealed that to succeed as a criminal, one had to be keen and observant on a number of factors that would often land you the ideal target. He pointed out body gestures and behaviours that indicated whether a person was carrying valuables or not.
"For instance, someone walking down the streets with valuables tends to be tense, fidgety and very self-aware, constantly touching their pockets or bag for reassurance that the possession is still there," he narrated.
File image of King Kafu (right) and Maji Maji. |Photo| Coutesy|
He would take a little alcohol to boost his confidence and not too much to intoxicate him.
Before a robbery, he would gather his team as friends attending a jam session. This was in a bid not to arouse suspicion.
His luck would later run out and he was arrested and served three years in jail. Upon his release, he was rearrested after a short while and served a further two-year sentence.
Kafu's life changed for the better in 2006 when Richard Ochola, a neighbour, who would visit him in prison lectured him a couple of times on turning his life around.
"He sat me down and asked me what it would take for me to quit this life of crime before I found myself dead. I told him to find me a job, and he did," Kafu recalled.
"I started off cutting business cards, calendars, magazines and posters for Ksh 100 per day, then worked as a carpenter at the city mortuary, making coffins.
"He urged me, however, to stay put for an opening that would be showing up at a radio station yet to be launched," he narrated.
Ghetto Radio was launched in 2006 and Kafu got a job as a messenger. At the time, he was focused on turning his life around, and the rate at which his former colleagues were losing their life to crime motivated him to better his life.
"As we passed time between deliveries, we would chat at the balcony. All the while, Rapture The Scientist, who I had once met in jail, was recording our conversations and playing them on air," Kafu recounted.
"As a result, that segment that aired our conversations got many hits that I was called in to be a presenter. I was trained on the job, and started the drive show," he added.
The show became a success and Kafu was promoted to hosting the morning show.
In the course of his media career, the reformed convict has employed his life experiences in educating the youth on the importance of seeking an honest living and helping ex-convicts find purpose in their lives.
Kafu runs a movement, Mfungwa ni Binadamu Initiative, which aims at the integration and motivation of ex-convicts, and those incarcerated into society.
He appeals to the state to work with reformists in ensuring that the youth are afforded a second shot at a better life.
File image of King Kafu (left) and Maji Maji. |Photo| Coutesy|
