Dickson Munene, wearing his satin graduation robe and a broad smile, holds aloft his hard-earned law degree from the University of London as the audience cheers.
He expresses thanks, says he will use the degree to help others and celebrates with cake.
Then he changes back into his baggy blue-and-white-striped uniform at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in Nairobi.
And it's back to the dreary routine, but there's hope for the convicted murderer who's already served 11 years and will be released in February 2025.
Munene, once the youngest inspector in the Kenya Police Service, is serving 21 years for the murder of James Ng'ang'a, the son of former Agriculture assistant minister Patrick Muiruri and a law lecturer in the UK.
His sentence was eventually reduced from life imprisonment due to his legal skills in making his case before the Court of Appeal.
It was a sensational murder. It happened in 2009, after Munene had been drinking in a Westland, Nairobi, bar and joined his friend who'd also been drinking in another bar and got involved in a brawl over a homophobic slur.
Munene and his friend blocked Ng'ang'a's car with theirs and fighting spilled over from the bar to the road. Ng'anga was shot three times.
“I have many times prayed for Muiruri’s family that God will grant them a forgiving heart," Munene, 36, told the Star in an exclusive interview at the prison after the graduation ceremony on Thursday. He was among 17 Kamiti graduates in London's African Prisons Project.
"I pray that God will give them another source of happiness. I have forgiven myself and accepted my fate. One day I pray that I will be able to sit down with them so that we can amend that which was broken."
Muiruri told the Star he's not yet ready to talk and forgive.
Munene said he never planned the shooting and certainly not the killing.
He said his biggest regret is that a family lost a son. He too lost his family, his wife and daughter, after they lost contact after many prison transfers.
“As you can see, I am here graduating in a lifetime's achievement, but it hurts my heart because none of my family is here to witness it," a tearful Munene said.
The irony is painful. "Initially it was very hard, I used to bring people here to the prison. I never imagined it would someday happen to me," he said.
"Now, with my legal training, I am helping others get out."
Munene is liked and respected by fellow inmates for the strides he’s made and his willingness to help others.
The former cop is also a graduate in economics from the University of Nairobi. He holds an MBA in entrepreneurship from Strathmore where he is pursuing his PhD.
The law graduate said that at first his heart "burning with anger and bitterness" in prison, believing the world and the system were against him.
“But this only binds one to misery," Munene said.
Now he says he has accepted the sentence, forgiven himself and is exploring a second chance to make himself a better person, help other inmates and teach young people about the law.
Already he and other 'jailhouse lawyers' have helped convicts get their sentences reviewed or reduced. Some have been acquitted. They have identified loopholes in the Kenya Prison Service Orders and the National Police Service Act.
"I'm now in my twelfth year and it has not been easy. After my case, I wanted to do law to help inmates," Munene said.
Eleven years is not a short time, he said. "I lost hope because I thought all was over but God has been faithful.
"He knows the destiny of each of us. Let my family forgive me, and those I offended, let them forgive me. This life belongs to God. If He purposed that one day I would be in prison, all I can say is let His will be done."
Munene said if he had obsessed on his past actions and the killing, "I would break down. "
“If that time of release comes, I will get out of this place, go to church and embark on a journey to find my family. After that, the rest will flow,” he said.
Many prisoners are convicted without being afforded an opportunity to make their submission, Munene said.
“There are very good lawyers with bright minds, but what motivated me to study law is that many prisoners are never allowed to present their mitigation."
Prison life is difficult, the environment is noisy and it's hard to study.
"My time here has helped me re-arrange my values and the things that I thought were important. This will help me help fellow inmates unable to hire lawyers. I am ready to offer pro bono services," the former inspector said.
He added, “We have been rejected by society and branded sinners but we are on the journey to becoming saints.”
The murder:
In 2009, Munene was an inspector based at the Capitol Hill police station.
He was convicted of shooting Ng'ang'a three times after a dawn brawl at Club Crooked-Q. He wasn't at that club but joined his friend later to pursue Ng'ang'a and others by car.
On the night of the murder, Ng’ang’a was drinking with his brother and Jedidah Okudo. Chepkonga was in another group of five men who were drinking and playing pool.
A fight broke out after Ng’ang’a walked up to Chepkonga and his friends and asked one man if he was gay. Both groups were thrown out of the club.
Outside the club, they fought again.
Ng’ang’a and his brother got into their car and started driving away. Unbeknownst to them, Chepkonga had called Munene, who was drinking at a neighbouring club.
The two followed Ng’ang’a and blocked their car. Fighting continued and Ng’ang’a was shot.
After a two-year trial, judge Mohammed Warsame said he was convinced the death was as a result of gunshots fired by Munene. He called the prosecution's 23 witnesses credible.
Munene had argued that Ng’ang’a was shot as he tried to grab his gun from him, but the judge said the death was a clear case of intended fatal shooting.
“The two accused persons formed a common intention to kill the deceased. The force used by the accused was unnecessary and unreasonable,” Warsame said.
In 2011, he found both Munene and his friend, businessman Alex Chepkonga, guilty and sentenced them to death. Though it is legal, no death sentence has been carried out in Kenya since 1987.
Chepkonga was acquitted after appealing the verdict.
Munene’s first appeal failed.
The government took full responsibility for the murder and agreed to pay Muiruri’s family Sh15.8 million.
