Man works for release of his brother from a Congo jail

Imagine being arrested for standing up for what you believe in.

That’s what happened to one man now sitting in a jail in Congo.

Now his brother in Pocatello is doing everything he can to get him out.

Vano Kiboko, and his brother Jesse Kiboko, are close. But since his Vano was imprisoned over a year ago, videos and pictures on his phone are all Jesse has of his brother right now.

Vano Kiboko is a preacher and former congressman in Congo. He went back to Congo in 2014 to help the people during the country’s time of need. At a press conference there, he condemned the violence at a march which resulted in the death of an innocent woman.

At the press conference he also spoke out against President Joseph Kabila running for a third term. He stated it was illegal because the Constitution was very clear a president was to serve only two terms.

Shortly after, he was arrested as a political prisoner.

Jesse Kiboko said his brother always stood for justice, no matter what. And it was no different in jail.

While in jail first in Kinshasa, he started Vano Ministries to preach to the people, pray with them, and bring in food to them. The jail was low on food and many went hungry without Vano’s help.

After Vano Kiboko refused to stop praying he was moved to a military prison. There he is kept completely in isolation, with no contact from the outside. His family cannot visit him or communicate with him at all now. They are worried about the toll it will take on him.

“We are very worried about his health,” said his brother Jesse Kiboko. “He has diabetes, he has high blood pressure, he has a few discs that are messed up in his back.”

Jesse Kiboko is even more worried his brother will be executed because that’s what always happens when someone is moved to a military prison. But Vano Kiboko said it will be okay.

“Last time I spoke with him he said ‘brother don’t worry about that because I’m ready and if they want to kill me today, I’m ready to die,” he said.

But Jesse isn’t giving up. He has a plan to take action. He believes the American people can help convince the government and President Barack Obama to take action, who can then put pressure on Kabila to release his brother. He asks for people to help because…

“It’s the right thing to do,” said Jesse Kiboko. “It’s like Jesus who went and gave the example of a good Samaritan. You don’t have to know somebody to help them.”

The family has their own message for Kabila, too.

“Because of our Christian belief, we have forgiven President Kabila,” said Jesse Kiboko. “But we want him to know that what he is doing is criminal and arresting someone for those reasons is not right.”

Vano has a wife and children in the U.S and Jesse says the entire family is behind him 100 percent.

They believe he was doing what’s right and standing up for human rights.

Now they hope others will do the same for him.

Jesse Kiboko and the rest of his family have started petitions, reached out to their local and state officials, and even emailed members of the White House personally. They have emailed John Kerry, President Obama, and Michelle Obama.

So they have gotten no response, but they are not giving up hope until their brother is home.

Jesse Kiboko even had a personal message for Obama and the White House.

“Please we are really begging you. We don’t know how much time he has left, he can be killed anytime. So your phone call to President Kabila would be really appreciated and it could save my brother’s life,” he said.