He moved to Nairobi to seek refuge at his sister’s house but later left for the streets after five days since his sister’s house was too small to accommodate him together with her family. He started as a beggar in the city centre in February this year where he managed to collect at least Sh500 a day.
“After the death sentence, everyone gave up on me including all my family members. No one even bothered to check on me. My brothers had taken all my properties. So after my release I did not even have a home. I started begging using this small cup here,” he says lifting the cup with several mobile top-up cards, “I will keep it forever. I would get many coins then I go any supermarket and I exchange with notes,”
However after two months on the streets, one Sunday Morning he decided it was time to change and become a better person despite being on a wheel chair. He saved some coins from what he collected and started hawking items like cigarettes, sweets, cakes and airtime on Uhuru Highway. Mwangi later managed to rent a Sh2,000 house in Banana where he now lives with his newly wedded wife. He does not only enjoy the fruits of his labour everyday but says his self esteem is back.
“This wheel chair is the one I was given at Kamiti Maximum Prison and I will use it to make my life better. I make a profit of close to Sh1,500 a day.”
Mwangi’s day starts at 5am and ends at 9pm. He arrives at Luthuli Avenue at 7am to buy his stock for the day, and heads for Uhuru Highway. His joy is when there is heavy traffic jam, especially during rush hour. His has a dream of starting his own restaurant in the next one and a half years.
He has forgiven all those he feels made him suffer in jail for ten years, and come out with physical disability. The most important thing in life is freedom and to achieve his dream ahead.
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