Prisoner flees from isolation centre in Bungoma
The isolation facility is guarded by administration police officers.
What you need to know:
- The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Simon Kisaka, confirmed that the patient had escaped with handcuffs, adding that the matter is under investigation
One of the six prisoners from the Bungoma GK Prison, who were under isolation at the Webuye County Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19, has escaped.
The inmate escaped from the isolation centre under unclear circumstances. The facility is guarded by administration police officers.
A source told the Nation that the incident could be an inside job as some of the workers at the facility have always complained of lack of motivation and good working conditions.
“Some of the staff including the security agents have had their allowances cut and feel aggrieved,” said the source who requested anonymity.
The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Simon Kisaka, confirmed that the patient had escaped with handcuffs, adding that the matter is under investigation. The disappearance of the prisoner has elicited fear among Webuye residents of infections.
Bungoma East police boss Valarian Obore said the incident has not been reported to his office.
“I am seeing this on social media but no one has come here to make a report,” he said.
The escapee is among eight prisoners who had been isolated on Tuesday as precautionary measure against the spread of the pandemic to other inmates.
Two of them were set free after their bond was cleared. Dr Kisaka said congestion at the prison could be the cause of the spread of the virus among the inmates.
He expressed fears that more prisoners could have contracted Covid-19, adding that samples have been taken to the Kenya Medial Research Institute (Kemri) in Kisumu for tests.
