Chapter 37

I followed my fellow convicts in to the prison bus. Our hands and feet were tied with metal cuffs. We could barely move properly with those metal cuffs but we were forced to anywhere. One by one we entered the bus and shown where to sit violently .

They literally pushed us around like we were sacks of potatoes. I guess we were no longer considered citizen of this country. We had no rights ,no freedom and no say in anything anymore . Our rights were stripped when we got convicted. A sack of potatoes had more rights than us.

The cuffs on my legs restricted my movements ,making me trips a few times. One of the guards shoved me into an empty seat and I almost fell on my stomach. Luckily one of my fellow convicts caught me right on time and helped me up carefully.

The guard laughed at the humane gesture before he turned back to whisper at the driver. This was my life now. There were metal bars separating where we sat and where the guards sat. A metal door was the only way in and out. Even the emergency door at the back of every bus was closed shut and filled with bars.

The windows had so many bars on them, squashing any thought of escape that may occur. The engine woke up with a roar and we started our journey to the big house, where we will spend the rest of our lives. The driver made sure to hit every pothole on the road , adding to our suffering. This felt like the beginning of a nightmare.

Within an hour we drove to the large gates of Thika women's prison written in black. The signboard before the gate was old and dirty, completely forgotten like we would be after a while. Our presence will be forgotten by those we love and we will become a distant memory like our dead.

At least they were dead and respected. We on the other hand will be used as examples to children when they loose their way. A cautionary tale. I would make the perfect example, pregnant and in prison. The perfect horror story.

The bus was inspected before it was allowed through the gates .When it came to a stop ,the door acting as a barrier between our side and the front was opened.

" Toka haraka!" ( Get out quickly) Yelled the same guard who shoved me.

The closest to the door , got out first and we were forced to follow their lead . We formed a straight line outside the bus ,before the bus drove out of the gates with what felt like our freedom in it. My eyes stared at the gate longingly but it felt like it was mocking me.

"Karibuni Thika women's prison. Kufika kwenu kumekaribishwa" (Welcome to Thika women's prison. Your arrival is most welcome. ) Said one of the guards.

Three guards were in front of us while two were on the sides, studying us. One of the guards, a woman had a different uniform than the rest. She was short ,chubby and in a very ugly weave. Her salonist should be in prison and not me. Doesn't she own a mirror?

" You are all here today because you did something. I don't care what you did but remember when you get in here ,you are nothing" she paused " you will live ,eat, sleep and some of you will die here. "

Some of the other girls started trembling at her intimidating voice. She must be the boss. Her confidence was over the top and the tone she used to speak incited fear and worry. She observed every girl closely before her gaze fell on me. I stood out from the line. I didn't cower or tremble at her words.

She continued staring at me and I stared back. After a few second she looked away and continued talking. Damn! Now she knows me. I thought I could keep a low profile , but what did do, stare at the boss.

" You will be assigned chores and cellmates. Welcome to the rest of your life ladies. Feel at home " she concluded.

She walked away immediately she was done talking , leaving us with the other guards. We were led to a waiting room where one by one we would walk to another room. In a few minutes it was my turn to go in.

" Toa nguo zote!"( Remove all your clothes) Said a woman

My hand hesitated for a second to accomplish the command, when I felt a wipe land on my ass , making me scream in fright.

" Amesema utoe nguo zote saa hii!" ( She has asked you to remove all your clothes ,now!) said another harsh voice.

It seems my mind had forgotten where I was. I had no choices as from today except do whatever I was told. My hands opened my jacket slowly. I removed my jacket, shirt, trouser and shoes. I stood up straight, letting my hands rest near my thighs.

" Toa zote. Acha kutuharibia wakati" ( remove them all, stop waisting our time) the first guard repeated.

When my hand went behind my back to unhook my bra ,I felt another whip land on my back, hitting my knuckles in the process.

"Harakisha"(hurry up)

I didn't wait to be asked a fourth time,I opened my bra and removed it. I reached for my thong and pulled it down my legs  and threw it on the bundle of clothes at my feet.

The female guard giving me instructions , inspected my body, below my tongue and between my ass cheeks. Let's just say that it was a thorough inspection. Once she was satisfied, she handed me prison uniform. Black and white stripped top and trousers, two pairs of white thick socks, black rubber shoes and a black heavy jacket.

" Vaa hizo nguo" ( wear those clothes) she ordered.

I wore the clothes in record time and left the other pair in the bag.

" Twende hizi" ( let's go this way)  said another guard.

I followed the guard to another building. We entered inside and I gasped at the view. Cells after cells were on every side of the corridors. The building was a five storey building full of cells. We walked passed the ground floor cells and took the stairs to the first floor.

After we passed the first five cells on both sides, we stopped at the sixth cell on the right. She took out a set of keys and opened the door.

" Utakaa hapa. Tumekuweka na mtu mzuri. Behave yourself" ( you'll be staying here. We have placed you with a good person. Behave yourself)she said softly.

I took shaky steps inside and the door was closed behind me with a bang, causing me to jump.

" Utaambiwa wakati wa chakula Cha jioni ikifika. Mpaka saa hizo ifike ,utakaa hapa" ( you'll be instructed when to take your dinner. Until that time reaches, you will stay here) she instructed.

" Okay ,thank you"

She left without another word. I looked around the small room. A bunk bed on the left, a small sink close to a toilet. How can someone use this toilet? It doesn't even have a door. Where do I get privacy in here? Lord,when will this nightmare end... The top bed was taken, so I took the bottom bed.

I was so tired and hungry but no one cared. I was here alone, staying with murders, rapists and all sorts of people when I did nothing wrong. I was innocent but my freedom was taken anyway. There really is no justice for the poor.

My eyes filled up with tears ,when sat on the bed. This is me now. I remember my mother's face when the judge sentenced me. She started crying and yelling at Marcus. Telling him that he was a monster. I suppose he was a monster. I don't think anyone would do this to a pregnant woman.

I was all alone. Again. And not by my choice but by choices made by a selfish man. I remember the words that changed my life forever like it was yesterday. Oh yeah, it was yesterday.

" I hereby sentence Zawadi Njoki to twenty years in prison"

Everything changed. My life, my child's life, my parents life. Everything. I was a convict sentenced to serve twenty years in prison. The worst part in all this was, my baby will be born in prison and taken away from me to be raised outside this walls. I will get to see my child for a few minutes before he or she is taken away from me.

How can someone be this cruel? How can he be so unfeeling when it comes to me that he doesn't think of our child? What did I ever do to him to deserve all this? I felt numb from emotions. I was tired of feeling all this emotions, I wish there was a way to turn them off.

I remember what I told him when I was taken away.

" One day you will regret this Marcus ,I am sure of it" I said with as much distaste and anger as I could muster.

" Are you threatening me?" He asked amused by my words.

I couldn't say anymore before, the guard forcefully carried me away. I remember not taking my eyes of him. I allowed myself to see him as I should have, an enemy. My enemy.

Sitting on this bunk bed only fueled my anger. I hated him with every cell in my body. And maybe not now or tomorrow but one day ,he will regret what he did to me.