A heartbreaking viral video has sparked emotional reactions online after a 68-year-old grandmother from Bungoma painfully narrated how she ended up behind bars, serving a 15-year prison sentence for a crime she insists she never committed. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.
Speaking from Lang'ata Women's Prison, Mama Judith Simiyu broke down as she recounted a painful family dispute that she claims destroyed her life and separated her from the people she once sacrificed everything to raise.
According to Mama Judith, she spent most of her life struggling to provide for her children after separating from her husband when her daughter Vivian was only eight years old.
She said she worked in South Sudan and later in Mandera under difficult conditions, raising her family single-handedly without support from anyone.
"I suffered for my children. I worked hard so they could have a better future," she said emotionally.
Years later, after Vivian completed her education and settled in Mombasa, she invited her mother to stay with her and help care for her young son. Mama Judith says she gladly accepted the invitation and dedicated the next five years of her life to raising the child.
She claims she treated the boy like her own son, feeding him, bathing him, and caring for him while Vivian focused on work.
However, things allegedly took a tragic turn after Vivian got married and Mama Judith decided it was time to return to her rural home in Bungoma.
According to her account, in November 2024, Vivian invited her to Nairobi for prayers with a visiting preacher. Although she initially declined, her daughter reportedly insisted and even sent her transport money.
Mama Judith travelled to Nairobi together with her brother and stayed in Airbnb rooms allegedly managed by her daughter near Coptic Hospital.
After the prayer meeting, she claims Vivian informed her that accommodation was limited and insisted that she share a room with her seven-year-old grandson.
Despite expressing reservations, she says she eventually complied after her daughter's repeated requests.
The following morning, Mama Judith says she requested transport money so she could return home.
Before leaving, however, a disagreement reportedly erupted between her and a relative identified as Dorcas, whom she criticized over personal family issues.
She believes that argument became the beginning of her troubles.
While travelling back to Bungoma, she allegedly received a shocking phone call from Vivian accusing her of sleeping with her seven-year-old grandson.
The accusation, she says, left her confused, devastated, and struggling to understand how such claims could be made against her.
"I raised that child from infancy. I loved him like my own son. I could never imagine hurting him," she said through tears.
The elderly woman further claims that she was later instructed to surrender to police and was eventually arrested by detectives before being transported to Nairobi to face charges.
Mama Judith maintains that she was wrongly accused and convicted despite what she believes were inconsistencies in the evidence presented during the case.
According to her account, she feels she did not receive a fair opportunity to prove her innocence.
She argues that certain details surrounding the medical examination and timeline of events raised questions that were never adequately addressed.
Nevertheless, the court found her guilty and sentenced her to 15 years in prison.
Now battling diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension while serving her sentence at Lang'ata Women's Prison, Mama Judith says the emotional pain of being accused by her own daughter hurts even more than her physical illnesses.
The grandmother says she often spends her days reflecting on the sacrifices she made throughout her life, wondering how the family she worked so hard to support became the source of her greatest suffering.
"I sacrificed everything for my children. Today I am old, sick, and in prison. My prayer is that one day the truth will come out," she said.
The viral video has since generated mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans expressing sympathy for the elderly woman while others have urged caution, noting that courts rely on evidence presented during trials and that all allegations involving children must be treated seriously.
As debate continues on social media, Mama Judith remains behind bars, holding onto hope that one day justice and the truth, as she sees it, will prevail.
Disclaimer: This story is based on claims made by Mama Judith Simiyu in a viral video. The allegations and statements presented reflect her account of events and should not be interpreted as proof of innocence, proof of guilt, or a definitive account of what occurred. Court findings, legal records, and all relevant evidence remain important considerations in understanding the case.
Tags
News