Piece by: Maureen Waruinge

09 January 2023

• Patrick Maloba is a pastor at End Times Transformation Centre in Umoja.

• He tells his story from crime to the pulpit.

Patrick Maloba was once a notorious thief who reformed after a long conversation with Jesus at 3 am.

Maloba told The Standard that his past life was riddled with controversy.

From crime to alcohol and promiscuity, Patrick Maloba had seen and experienced it all before he got saved.

"At only 16 years due to peer pressure and being raised in a polygamous dysfunctional family, I got into drinking, drugs, and a bad company of crime," he said.

He added that his life in crime started when he was in secondary school at BuruBuru High School.

"My responsibility was to organize where my thugs will come to steal...I was an informer to our thugs on potential areas of looting.

"I used to sleep the whole day and wake up at night...My only friend was darkness, prostitutes, watchmen, and women selling illicit brews namely changaa, miti ni dawa, or jet fuel," Maloba narrated.

Maloba remarked that life in crime was never great as a few of his friends were gunned down while others died from HIV.

"It impacted my life negatively in various ways. More than 45 of my friends died prematurely due to HIV/Aids, drugs, being gunned down by law enforcers, and suicide...I became hopeless and the only place I could run to was the toxic company, drugs, alcoholism, and sometimes women...practically, life was a living hell for me," he told.

But God was not done with Patrick. One day, the reformed Pastor had a conversation with Jesus in the dark of the night.

"On June 5, 2022, while drunk from 10 am to 3 am, I saw a person like Jesus himself visiting me...We had a long conversation and from that morning, I woke up saved and delivered to this day... Since that day, I don’t drink, smoke, or go out anymore like I used to.

I believe that it’s only Jesus who saved me and it’s only Him who can save you permanently."

Patrick now uses all opportunities to preach to Umoja residents to kick all these vices.

"From the time I got transformed, God has been using me by His grace to transform my generation specifically prostitutes, drunkards, single parents, and youths in lesbianism, drugs, homosexuality, and devil worship. I preach against these vices in markets and walkways and in our neighborhoods...."