Philemon Story

The story of Philemon is intimately tied-up with the story of Kelvin Mwikya. It is impossible to understand one without the other.
 
In 1992, Kelvin was wrongly convicted of robbery with violence through the connivance of corrupt officials and exploitative family members. Whilst in prison, Kelvin underwent a radical transformation and upon release in 1996 was able to find work as a carpenter. He heroically used his humble wages to buy toilet paper and soap to take back into the prisons for the benefit of the prisoners. So began the work of the Philemon Foundation. 
 
Kelvin is now the Director of Philemon, ensuring that Philemon remains faithful to its original vision to help bring about reconciliation between prisoners and society.
 
The name comes from the book of Philemon in the Bible, in which the apostle Paul mediated the relationship between the changed prisoner Onesimus and his former master Philemon.
 
Here are some extracts from Kelvin’s story:
 
“On 26th February 1994 in prison, I had an experience like never before. I felt that I had hope, a new beginning and inner strength. I knew I had a future and I felt so much joy. The bitterness and resentment towards my uncle started to fade. I began to read the Bible. Every Sunday I learned new things about God. It was the greatest thing that had ever happened to me. In April 1994 the Gideons gave me a New Testament. I began reading it from the beginning. It was my only possession and it was so very dear to me. I read the Bible daily. It became everything to me and I carried it everywhere. It was the best gift I had ever received. The words in it were so meaningful.
 
A view of a Philemon visit from a Kenyan prison cell:
 
 
In August I went to see the officer in charge to see if I could preach in every ward of the prison. He said ‘no’ and sent me to an isolation cell for two days. I was tortured and denied all food except for porridge in the morning. The cell was not even big enough to sit in. It was made up of three walls and bars. It was very dark and cold. The time in the isolation cell was the hardest time in prison. I felt like the apostle Paul. I prayed all the time and sang...
 
...In February 1995, after one year of being with the Lord, I had a vision. One Friday night about midnight I was flicking through the Bible when I found the book of Philemon and I read it three times. I didn’t understand what it meant. On the Saturday morning there were many of us, about 1,000, doing hard labour. I went to the toilet and I found a lot of Bibles being used as toilet paper because there was no toilet paper.
 
I despaired, “God forgive us as prisoners”. I went to where I had been sleeping and returned to Philemon and read. The message became very clear. God was speaking to me about the paper. I made a pledge there and then to preserve his word for the rest of my life by providing toilet paper.
 
...On 1st June 1996 I was praying for my appeal and it arrived that day. My original sentence was reduced to three years and the probation and strokes of the cane were quashed. I had only 2 months to serve.
 
On Friday 9th August 1996 I was released. Inmates were crying and officers did not want me to leave. They escorted me to the bus park. It was a ceremony, not just another release. The chaplain prayed with the officers and the inmates. I felt I was surrounded by joy. My heart was full of thanks and praise. I was full of tears of joy and remembering the words that I had been told about meeting my death in prison. I was very optimistic and felt that nothing could stop me now. I didn’t know what my future held...
 
...On 31st December 2001 I was at home alone. As I prayed whilst people went to New Year services, God reminded again of the book of Philemon. A vision of a harvest in a garden returned to me and so I said “Lord I will go there”.”
 
In 2002, Philemon was officially founded as a Kenyan charity and received significant notoriety for setting up the first halfway home for former prisoners in Kenya. Despite its limited resources it has continued to grow from its humble beginnings.
 
Today, Philemon is one of the leading Kenyan prison charities, providing a number of services for the benefit of prisoners and former prisoners, including prison visits, half way home accommodation, counselling, education, vocational training, small business support and advocacy on criminal justice and penal reform.