Last moments between hangman and inmates

By Francis Ngige

There were times when Mr Kirugumi wa Wanjuki became emotionally entangled with the people he hanged.

He says convicts would make their last wishes before death, and some were laughable or simply too personal and unachievable.

"On the last day, the condemned inmate is told to ask for anything that the prison can provide," he says.

Before death row inmates are hanged, the man says, prison warders in charge were tasked with the duty of ensuring they fed well.

Meal of choice

He said it was a legal requirement that every prisoner with a date with the hangman be provided with a meal of their choice.

"Many ask for good food, but others just sulked and refused to ask for anything," he recalls.

Inmates had to be clean before they went to the gallows.

"We had to ensure that their nails were well trimmed, their hair clean shaven and bodies clean," the man said.

The date with the hangman was scheduled for dawn and the condemned prisoner was woken up before 5am and led to the gallows, his legs and hands bound.

"Some walked in silence, others prayed, some cried and some just went wild," Wanjuki recalls.

He recalls one incident in which a woman convicted for the murder of a police officer was brought before him.

She requested him to sleep with her. But he flatly declined.

Caught offguard

"This was total surprise and it caught me off guard. She told me that no one would know what happened before her death," said Wanjuki.

But he could not do it because it was unprofessional and he could have lost his job.

So, what did he do? "I kept quiet and led her to the noose. I had a job to do and I did not let emotions get the better of me."

In another execution, an Asian-Kenyan man who had become very remorseful as he awaited his day with the hangman cried and wailed for mercy as Wanjuki led him to the gallows.

"He became hysterical and cried for mercy, but I knew I could not leave him to go, it was in my job description. I hanged him quickly and left for my room. I locked myself in and cried like a baby," he said.

"However much I tried, sometimes the emotions got the better of me, especially if the person being hanged was a youth, it really hurt me," he said.