The Testimony of
John Kiriamiti
This is the story of Mr Kiriamiti. — The story of John Baptista Wanjohi Kiriamiti is one of Kenya's most remarkable real-life transformation stories—from a feared criminal to a bestselling author and social reformer.
John Kiriamiti was born on 14 February 1950 in Thuita Village, Kamacharia, Murang'a County, Kenya. He was the second of nine children born to Albert and Anne Wanjiru Kiriamiti, who were both primary school teachers. He was an intelligent student and earned a place at the then prestigious Prince of Wales School (now Nairobi School). However, at just 15 years old, he was expelled after leading a student strike, effectively ending his formal education.
Entry into Crime After leaving school, Kiriamiti drifted into Nairobi's criminal underworld. He began with pickpocketing and car break-ins before becoming involved in armed robberies. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he became one of Kenya's most wanted criminals, operating under several aliases, the most famous being Jack Zollo. His gang carried out daring robberies and managed to evade police for years.
Arrest and Imprisonment Kiriamiti's criminal career ended in 1970 when he was arrested and later convicted of robbery. In January 1971, he was sentenced to prison and served many years in Naivasha and Kamiti Maximum Security prisons. While incarcerated, he reflected deeply on his life and began writing about his experiences.
While still in prison, Kiriamiti wrote My Life in Crime, a fictionalized autobiography based on his criminal life. Published in 1984, the book became one of Kenya's best-selling novels and was especially popular among young readers. He later wrote several more books, including: My Life with a Criminal: Milly's Story My Life in Prison Son of Fate The Sinister Trophy The Abduction Squad City Carjackers
After his release in 1984, Kiriamiti devoted himself to writing and speaking about the consequences of crime. He also became involved in rehabilitating street children and helping young people avoid criminal lifestyles. He founded and edited a newspaper called The Sharpener and became known as a philanthropist and social reformer.
John Kiriamiti's life is often described as a story of redemption. His books provide a vivid account of Kenya's criminal underworld in the years following independence while emphasizing the heavy cost of crime. Today, he is remembered not only as one of Kenya's most notorious former criminals but also as one of its most influential popular authors. His life carries a powerful lesson: past mistakes do not have to define a person's future. With genuine change, it is possible to transform even the darkest chapter of life into something that educates and inspires others.
