Punching through crime

In the volatile area of Mlango Kubwa, Mathare Constituency in Nairobi County, Joseph Gwada has not just turned his life around but also transformed the lives of many others through the sport of boxing.

Once a notorious hardcore criminal, Gwada now serves as a preacher and a boxing coach, narrowly escaping the death traps set against him during his dark days in the surrounding informal settlements.

Born and raised in the outskirts of Nairobi’s Mlango Kubwa, Gwada completed his primary and secondary school education. However, he found himself idle and susceptible to peer pressure, which eventually led him down a perilous path.

“I was born and raised in Nairobi’s outskirts of Mlango Kubwa. I completed my primary school education at St Teresa’s Boys in 1998 and later sat for my secondary school exams in 2002,” Gwada shared about his early life.

“After finishing form four, I found myself idling around with nothing to do at home and due to peer pressure, I found myself in a criminal gang.”

He joined a criminal gang involved in snatching and mugging activities in their neighbourhood. As their crimes escalated and they became recognizable, they had to move to other areas like Kariobangi and Baba Dogo to avoid detection.

“Thugs in these areas were advanced, they carried out crime using firearms, unlike us with bare hands. So it became a reality that we needed to acquire a gun to fit in. Finding a weapon in Nairobi those days was an uphill task. This forced us to organise for a trip to Garissa on a firearm mission. We spent three days in the bush before a guy from Somalia came with a pistol worth Sh20,000,” Gwada recounted.

“From there, we came up with a plan to evade numerous roadblocks all the way from North Eastern to Nairobi. We hid the gun underneath melted cooking oil to cheat metal detectors. The trick worked and got to Mlango Kubwa safely with our newly purchased gun.”

Armed and more experienced, Gwada’s gang terrorized traders and the community, resorting to robbery and violence. Their actions led them to hijack a milk truck and steal Sh40,000 from the driver. However, crime was catching up with them, and a friend’s near-death experience would change Gwada’s life forever.

Despite being on the police’s most wanted list, Gwada and his gang became more fierce and brutal. However, a police officer who knew them well-pleaded for them to stop their criminal activities. Ignoring his warning, they planned a mission that ultimately led to their friend’s arrest and subsequent murder. The police relentlessly pursued them until they recovered multiple firearms.

“What made me stop crime is a friend who was fatally shot along Outering Road. He was being taken to the mortuary after sustaining serious gunshot wounds that led to the police pronouncing him dead after a failed robbery mission, only for him to come back to life on his way to the morgue. Thereafter, I was also arrested and spent one year behind bars after wreaking havoc in Pangani,” Gwada explained.

After a year behind bars and witnessing the near-death experience of his friend, Gwada decided it was time to leave a life of crime behind. Upon his release, he ventured into the liquid soap business, besides trainig as a boxer. After qualifying to be a trainer, he began training the youth in boxing to keep them away from crime in Mlango Kubwa.

Through the boxing club, he successfully steered young men and women away from drug abuse and petty crimes, offering them a more positive and productive path. The club rapidly grew, and crime was significantly reduced in the area.

“Through boxing and other sports disciplines like football, crime has significantly reduced in this location. I urge all well-wishers to come on board and help us transform the youth in Mlango Kubwa by keeping them busy in boxing and other meaningful activities,” Gwada emphasized.

Gwada’s next endeavour is organizing a major boxing tournament in Mlango Kubwa, scheduled for November 4, 2023. He invites interested parties to contribute and help make the event a success. His ultimate goal is to continue transforming the lives of the youth in Mlango Kubwa through boxing and other meaningful activities, emphasizing that crime does not pay.