Five Kenyan police officers were arraigned on Wednesday, accused of aiding in the escape of a suspected serial killer and 12 other detainees from a police station in Nairobi. The suspects were arraigned following a dramatic jailbreak on Tuesday that has raised serious concerns about security protocols within the police force.
Prosecutors have requested that the court detain the officers for two weeks to allow time for a thorough investigation into their alleged involvement. Authorities are currently collecting statements, reviewing CCTV footage, and examining the officers’ phones as part of the probe.
Among the escapees is Collins Jumaisi, a man arrested last month on suspicion of murdering at least six women whose bodies were discovered wrapped in plastic bags at an old quarry now used as a rubbish dump. Jumaisi has allegedly confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife, although his lawyer claims the confession was extracted under torture, a charge prosecutors deny.
Preliminary police investigations suggest that the jailbreak was facilitated by insiders. The escape was discovered at around 5:00 AM on Tuesday when Jumaisi and 12 Eritrean nationals were found missing from their cell. The group is believed to have cut through a wire mesh over a window to make their escape.
A manhunt is currently underway to recapture the fugitives, as authorities continue to scrutinise the actions of the detained officers who were on duty at the time.
Melissa Enoch
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