Ruth Kamande, a life-term convict for the 2015 murder of her boyfriend, has achieved a significant milestone by graduating with a law degree.
The graduation ceremony, held at Kamiti Maximum Prison on Tuesday, marked a pivotal moment in her rehabilitation journey.
Speaking during the ceremony, Kamande expressed her gratitude and reflected on her transformation.
“We are here to celebrate this new chapter with a new story, which all of you have participated in rewriting. These graduates have successfully studied law behind bars, demonstrating true transformation, rehabilitation, and reform,” she said.
The event was organized by Justice Defenders, an NGO dedicated to equipping underserved communities with legal knowledge by training paralegals and lawyers.
In addition to Kamande, other inmates and prison wardens also graduated, showcasing the program’s wide-reaching impact.
“These are individuals who have trained as paralegals and proven that something positive can emerge from prisons,” said Hamis Mzari, a former convict who now practices law.
Kamande’s Journey Behind Bars
Kamande gained public attention when she was crowned Miss Lang’ata Women Prison in 2016. She was convicted in 2018 for the murder of her boyfriend, Farid Mohammed, whom she stabbed 25 times.
During her trial, Kamande admitted to the act, recounting that the fatal altercation began when she discovered a card from the AIDS Control Programme indicating that Mohammed was HIV positive.
She claimed that Mohammed threatened to kill her to keep his status a secret.
“Farid told me he would rather kill me and himself than have his status exposed. In the struggle, I overpowered him, using a kitchen knife that fell on me during the altercation. I stabbed him to save my life,” Kamande told the court in 2015.
She was initially sentenced to death in 2018, but her sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
Recently, Kamande has sought to appeal her case at the Supreme Court, arguing self-defense and raising issues surrounding domestic violence.
A Testament to Transformation
Kamande’s graduation is a testament to the potential for reform and personal growth, even under the constraints of incarceration.
As she pursues her appeal, her story underscores the broader impact of education and legal empowerment in the justice system.
Justice Defenders, through its initiatives, continues to inspire hope, demonstrating that with support and opportunity, individuals can rewrite their narratives and contribute positively to society.
