By Sarah Omondi
Seven Kamiti Maximum Prison warders have been arrested in connection with the escape of three terror convicts from the facility.
The three: Mohammed Ali Abikar, Joseph Juma Odhiambo a.k.a Yusuf and Musharraf Abdalla Akhulunga a.k.a Zarkarawi reportedly escaped from the highly guarded facility at around 1AM on Monday under unclear circumstances.
Interior CS Dr Fred Matiang’i has linked the escape to laxity and incompetence of the officers in charge and assured that investigations were underway to ensure arrest of more officers.
The CS, accompanied by Principal Secretaries Zeynab Mohammed (Correctional Services) and Karanja Kibicho (Interior) and Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai, DCI boss George Kinoti, and Commissioner General of Prisons Wycliffe Ogallo during a tour at the correctional facility on Monday evening said the security team had embarked on a countrywide manhunt for the trio including heavily guarding all the country exit points.
Dr Matiang’i revealed that having visited the room that the trio is alleged to have escaped from, there was no evidence to support reports provided by the prison’s heads.
“We have gone to the place where the escape allegedly happened, and we have formed certain opinions. We do not want to discuss that because it could interfere with the ongoing probe by DCI,” said Dr Matiang’i.
Mr Akhulunga was charged with being in possession of explosives, firearms and ammunitions after he was arrested following a foiled attack on Kenya’s parliament in 2012.
Mr Odhiambo was arrested in 2019 and accused of trying to join a terror group in a neighboring country while Abikar was convicted in 2019 for aiding the Garissa University attack in 2015 that lead to the deaths of 148 people.
The DCI has offered Sh60 million reward for any Kenyan who provides information that could lead to the rearrest of the three who are considered dangerous to the citizens.
The CS has however appealed to Kenyans not to panic as the security forces were on high alert.
