Abdi Sora, a father of two, has been at the Nakuru GK prison for 13 years, after he was found guilty of defilement charges.

Today, he steps out of the prison a free man after serving his sentence.

Also Read: Ex-convict finds hope in new love, welding business

The then 55 year old swears he did not commit the crime but was falsely accused.

“I have forgiven the person and hope that as I go back home, the society will accept me,” a joyful Sora says.

During his time at the prison, Mr Sora was welcomed into the life of a strict routine where activities are timed to the exact second.

“Every day we wake up at 6:30am. After the roll call, we assemble at the dining area where we have porridge for breakfast,” Sora narrates.

Read: A fight over Ugali and eggs earned me 10 years in jail

Afterwards, Sora and his fellow inmates go to their specific areas of work at the workshops within the Prison ground. Here, they work until noon.

“Between 12pm and 2pm we have lunch and carry out cleaning duties around the prison. In one hall we are 125. All of us are segmented in groups of seven to handle different cleaning tasks.

Sora then goes back to the workshop where he works until 4pm.

The time between 4pm and 6pm is set aside for showering before having dinner at exactly 6pm and watching local television stations to keep abreast with the current affairs.

“At 9.30 pm, the TV is switched off and we go into our cubes. We must all be in bed at exactly 10pm,” he says.

Related: Man Reunites With Family After 20 Years in Prison

Mr Sora says dealing with the challenges in the prison like poor food, congestion and most importantly lack of freedom, has shaped his character and made him appreciate life even more.

Asked what he misses the most, Sora says, “despite the fact that my family would visit me here, I miss living with them as one. I cannot wait to reunite with them.”

He jokingly adds that he is certain he would not remember his exact home, for he knows a lot of buildings have come up since he was last there and may need one of his family members to lead the way.

“I hope to rebuild my life and pass on my knowledge in carpentry to the people outside,” he concludes.

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My life in Nakuru GK prison

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Winnie Kimani