Philemon Ministries
Encyclopedia
Philemon Ministries is a charitable foundation started by Kelvin Mwikya in Nairobi
, Kenya
in 1992. The charity provides food, shelter, counselling, community, training and employment to prisoners and former prisoners. The charity is supported by the Office of the Vice-President of Kenya
and Lord Goldsmith.
The charity's name comes from the Epistle to Philemon
in the Bible, in which the apostle Paul mediated the relationship between the changed prisoner Onesimus and his former master Philemon.
. As he daily began to read the Bible, the bitterness and resentment towards his family faded.
In the toilets of the Kenyan prisons, Bibles were being used as toilet paper, due to lack of toilet paper. Mwikya committed to provide prisoners with toilet paper, in order to preserve the Bibles in the prisons. After release from prison, Mwikya used his wages to buy toilet paper and soap to take back into Kenyan prisons for the benefit of the prisoners. He also bought two mattresses and opened his small bedroom to ex-convicts with whom he was in touch.
In 2002, Philemon was officially founded by Mwikya as a Kenyan charity. His first action was to address the very basic needs of prisoners, through the provision of toilet paper, soap, food and clothing. As Philemon grew, Mwikya started more ambitious interventions, such as business skills classes with participants learning skills such as financial management, stock-keeping and costing.
Philemon established the first half-way home in Kenya, accommodating residents on a six-month program. As of January 2011, approximately 150 released prisoners have passed through the halfway house. Residents learn skills such as carpentry, metalwork and tailoring in the social enterprise businesses of Philemon. Philemon assists residents to go on and find employment, for example, by helping residents to obtain ID cards.
Mwikya's work got noticed, both by local churches who wanted to help and by government officials, who asked him to help them address the inherent failures of the system.
The prisons work of Philemon includes Bible distribution, prison fellowship groups, open air meetings and welfare support. Five prison life groups meet every Saturday in five prisons in four provinces, and the groups work through a variety of Bible studies on topics dealing with everyday issues. The aim of the life groups is to prepare prisoners for release through support and family reconciliation, and to offer guidance on challenges faced upon release, including employment, housing and stigma.
.
Former UK Attorney General Lord Goldsmith also visited the Philemon halfway house on 21 November 2006. Mwikya's story is reported as having made a strong impression on Lord Goldsmith and he commented that it was a very humbling testimony to hear.
Kerioko Tabiko, Director of Public Prosecution, from the office of the Attorney General Office, stated on 17 November 2006 that "Kelvin is an inspiration to thousands of people in and out of prison, and its up to us to utilize his experience to benefit [the prison reform] process."
Philemon in Kenya has a long standing partnership with Philemon UK, which supports, encourages, and raises awareness and finances for Philemon in Kenya. Mwikya is also developing links with Philemon in Canada.
Philemon partners with Christian lawyers in Kenya, CLEAR Kenya, as well as The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship in the UK, with LCF teams coming from the UK to support, among other projects, the work of Philemon. The role of Philemon and Mwikya was important in establishing the international work of LCF and the prisons work of CLEAR Kenya.
Mwikya is also a member of the Tearfund
programme for Inspired Individuals, which seeks to identify support and resources with a vision to transform the lives of millions living in poverty.
, the largest and most influential newspaper in Kenya and East Africa.
K24TV, a Kenyan television station, covered the work of Mwikya and Philemon in an in-depth documentary.
Kenyan Citizen TV, another Kenyan television station, has also highlighted the work of Mwikya and Philemon in its documentary, "Hope for Ex-convicts".
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
in 1992. The charity provides food, shelter, counselling, community, training and employment to prisoners and former prisoners. The charity is supported by the Office of the Vice-President of Kenya
Vice-President of Kenya
The Vice-President of Kenya is the second-highest executive official in the Kenyan government.-List of Vice-Presidents of Kenya:*Jaramogi Oginga Odinga *Joseph Zuzarte Murumbi *Daniel arap Moi...
and Lord Goldsmith.
The charity's name comes from the Epistle to Philemon
Epistle to Philemon
Paul's Epistle to Philemon, usually referred to simply as Philemon, is a prison letter to Philemon from Paul of Tarsus. Philemon was a leader in the Colossian church. This letter, which is one of the books of the New Testament, deals with forgiveness.Philemon was a wealthy Christian of the house...
in the Bible, in which the apostle Paul mediated the relationship between the changed prisoner Onesimus and his former master Philemon.
Mission
Philemon focuses on the rehabilitation of current and former prisoners in Kenya. The organizations provides food, shelter, counselling, community, training, and employment with the ultimate goal of reintegration into society.Organizational history
Mwikya was wrongly convicted of robbery with violence in Kenya, as a result of corrupt officials and family members. On 26 February 1994, during his time in prison, Mwikya became a ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. As he daily began to read the Bible, the bitterness and resentment towards his family faded.
In the toilets of the Kenyan prisons, Bibles were being used as toilet paper, due to lack of toilet paper. Mwikya committed to provide prisoners with toilet paper, in order to preserve the Bibles in the prisons. After release from prison, Mwikya used his wages to buy toilet paper and soap to take back into Kenyan prisons for the benefit of the prisoners. He also bought two mattresses and opened his small bedroom to ex-convicts with whom he was in touch.
In 2002, Philemon was officially founded by Mwikya as a Kenyan charity. His first action was to address the very basic needs of prisoners, through the provision of toilet paper, soap, food and clothing. As Philemon grew, Mwikya started more ambitious interventions, such as business skills classes with participants learning skills such as financial management, stock-keeping and costing.
Philemon established the first half-way home in Kenya, accommodating residents on a six-month program. As of January 2011, approximately 150 released prisoners have passed through the halfway house. Residents learn skills such as carpentry, metalwork and tailoring in the social enterprise businesses of Philemon. Philemon assists residents to go on and find employment, for example, by helping residents to obtain ID cards.
Mwikya's work got noticed, both by local churches who wanted to help and by government officials, who asked him to help them address the inherent failures of the system.
Activities
Philemon works with Government and civil society groups, local churches and international partners. The Philemon vision is to change lives and rebuild society across Kenya and East Africa. Its current activities include:- Visiting prisons to proclaim the gospel and provide for basic material need
- Providing community for former prisoners in our halfway home and through local peer support networks
- Teaching key life and employment skills, nurturing character, encouraging repentance and change, discipling and mentoring
- Supporting former prisoners in the process of reconciliation with their families, establishing sustainable livelihoods for themselves and becoming servant-leaders of their communities
- Engaging in policy dialogue and reform of the criminal justice and prison systems
The prisons work of Philemon includes Bible distribution, prison fellowship groups, open air meetings and welfare support. Five prison life groups meet every Saturday in five prisons in four provinces, and the groups work through a variety of Bible studies on topics dealing with everyday issues. The aim of the life groups is to prepare prisoners for release through support and family reconciliation, and to offer guidance on challenges faced upon release, including employment, housing and stigma.
Partnership and supporters
Mwikya has a number of high profile supporters, including Kenyan Director of Probation, Jeremy Oloo; Commissioner of Prisons, Isaiah Osugo; and Kenyan Vice-President Kalonzo MusyokaKalonzo Musyoka
Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Vice President of Kenya. Musyoka served in the government under President Daniel arap Moi and was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1993 until 1998; subsequently, under President Mwai Kibaki, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs...
.
Former UK Attorney General Lord Goldsmith also visited the Philemon halfway house on 21 November 2006. Mwikya's story is reported as having made a strong impression on Lord Goldsmith and he commented that it was a very humbling testimony to hear.
Kerioko Tabiko, Director of Public Prosecution, from the office of the Attorney General Office, stated on 17 November 2006 that "Kelvin is an inspiration to thousands of people in and out of prison, and its up to us to utilize his experience to benefit [the prison reform] process."
Philemon in Kenya has a long standing partnership with Philemon UK, which supports, encourages, and raises awareness and finances for Philemon in Kenya. Mwikya is also developing links with Philemon in Canada.
Philemon partners with Christian lawyers in Kenya, CLEAR Kenya, as well as The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship in the UK, with LCF teams coming from the UK to support, among other projects, the work of Philemon. The role of Philemon and Mwikya was important in establishing the international work of LCF and the prisons work of CLEAR Kenya.
Mwikya is also a member of the Tearfund
Tearfund
Tearfund is a UK Christian relief and development agency which works in over 50 countries. It is a founding member of both the Micah Network and the Disasters Emergency Committee.-History:...
programme for Inspired Individuals, which seeks to identify support and resources with a vision to transform the lives of millions living in poverty.
Media coverage
On 15 October 2010, the work of Philemon was highlighted in a lead feature article in the Saturday Daily NationDaily Nation
The Daily Nation is a Kenyan independent newspaper. It is the most influential newspaper in Kenya with a daily circulation of about 205,000 copies. The total readership is likely to be higher as each copy is read by a large number of people...
, the largest and most influential newspaper in Kenya and East Africa.
K24TV, a Kenyan television station, covered the work of Mwikya and Philemon in an in-depth documentary.
Kenyan Citizen TV, another Kenyan television station, has also highlighted the work of Mwikya and Philemon in its documentary, "Hope for Ex-convicts".