Julius Ndirangu, a Kenyan athlete, still has a glimpse of his early 20s life when he made millions in international competitions but lost all and ended up in prison just a few years later.

Speaking on Inooro TV’s Njeraini citu show, Ndirangu revealed he moved from grace to grass after a meeting with a Kenyan girl at a local club.

The marathoner had just returned to Kenya in 2021 to visit his family and prepare for an upcoming racing event in the United States; little did he know that the trip home would result in a 5-year sentence at the Naivasha Maximum Security Prison.

On October 24, 2022, he woke up to a normal training routine at a training camp in Nyandarua County and then joined his cousin for a drink at a local club.

It was here that he met a young girl whom they engaged in conversation, extending it past the club with Ndiragnu unaware of the impending danger.

“We became friends and would see each other from time to time. She approached me and informed me that she needed help to raise her 3-year-old child, ” he said.

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“Touched by her plight, I decided to employ her to work in the house, taking care of my grandmother at our family home. She told me that she was 19 years old at the time,” he added.

One fateful day, while Ndirangu was on his normal training, he received a call informing him to rush home. On returning home, he landed on the hands of law enforcers who arrested him for involvement with an underage.

“I went and found police officers at the house. They arrested me and took me to Kipipiri police station, saying that I was getting involved with an underage girl. Protesting that she was above the age, I found out that she was 17 years old,” he narrated.

He was also accused of defilement, a charge he denied. Regretting his kindness, Ndirangu hopes to return to athletics after serving his five-year sentence.

“I advise the public to take care not to fall into such traps. I didn’t envision that I would be here, serving five years. The lady’s life is thriving while mine is stagnating,” he said.