BY PETER NJOROGE
Joseph Juma Odhiambo alias Yusuf who was among the three terror convicts who engaged the police in a wild goose chase after escaping from Kamiti Maximum Prison was a brilliant kid in school.
Odhiambo together with his fellow escapees Musharaf Abdalla and Mohammed Ali Abikar escaped from the highly guarded jail on Monday, November 15, at 1am – before being rearrested in Kitui.
The 30-year-old attended Mukwale Primary School and scored 336 Marks out of 500 Marks in his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.
“While in class 6, he started selling kales and his business was flourishing,” said Odhiambo’s mother Florence Odhiambo who noted that his wayward son decided to shake hands with education – and that’s when his life took a downward spiral like a killer train that had lost its breaks.
His decision to abandon his books to become a scrap metal dealer in Kakamega and later a security guard in Nairobi left his father Patrick Odhiambo nursing disappointments – like any concerned parent would.
“As a father I was disappointed in my son. In fact, his siblings are still studying, his twin sister is currently in college,” he said, his face covered in thick sorrow you could sink your teeth in it.
Odhiambo’s mother and father separated – with junior Odhiambo – according to the dad – showing a desire to live with his mother.
Indeed a mother’s love, like that of mother hen never wanes – and if it does – that of Florence has not.
“I ask for forgiveness on behalf of my son for everything he has done. He did not know what he was doing. May God forgive him and may the government also forgive him,” she pleaded with the government.
On his part – however – the dad wants the son to be kept away even longer for his sins.
“The government should charge him and add him even more years in jail. He will find me dead and be shown my grave,” said a dejected Odhiambo.