From Gun Thug to Bible Holder

Image by The Star

As Kenya celebrated Mashujaa Day, one man's journey from darkness to light unfolded within the walls of Kericho Prison. Bishop Peter Mogaka, once a notorious armed robber, now stands as a beacon of hope and transformation for inmates across the country.

Amidst the hymns and prayers echoing through the prison cells, Bishop Mogaka shares his harrowing tale of redemption. "I was a gun-toting thug," he confesses, his voice trembling with emotion. "But God saved me from the jaws of death and gave me a second chance."

Born into poverty and neglect in Nyaturubo village, Kisii, Mogaka's childhood was marred by hunger, addiction, and crime. At the tender age of 10, he found solace in alcohol, and by 16, he was brewing chang'aa to survive.

But poverty only fueled his descent into darkness. He turned to stealing and violence, a desperate bid to numb the pain of his broken past. "I needed something more powerful than I can feel," he recalls, his eyes haunted by the memories of his youth.

Love offered him a glimmer of hope, but even that was tainted by lies and deception. "I met Veronica while on my errands of transporting alcohol," he recounts. "But I lied to her, pretending to be a GSU officer to win her affection."

As his crimes escalated, Mogaka's luck finally ran out. A botched robbery left him scarred and broken, confined to a hospital bed with handcuffs as his only company. But it was behind bars that he found salvation.

"I spent years in darkness," he admits. "But a visit from a cleric sparked a fire within me, a desire to break free from the chains of my past." With the support of his family and community, Mogaka embraced a new path, trading his life of crime for one of service and redemption.

Bishop Peter Mogaka of the Beginning Ministries International Kericho with a section of his church members during a worship service.

Image: Sarah Njagi/KNA

Today, as the head cleric at Beginning Ministries International, Kericho, Mogaka shares his journey of deliverance with inmates, offering hope to those who have lost their way. "Prisons can reform and rehabilitate hardcore criminals," he affirms, his voice ringing with conviction.

His tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed. Kericho prisons commander, Aggrey Akayo, praises Mogaka's impact on the lives of inmates, emphasizing the importance of spiritual values in the journey towards rehabilitation.

As Bishop Mogaka continues to preach his message of redemption, his story serves as a reminder that no one is beyond forgiveness, and that even the darkest of souls can find light in the most unexpected places.