Four police officers quizzed in Narok cell breakout probe
DCI is questioning the police officers in Narok who were on duty when the remandees prisoners escaped from a cell.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Narok has questioned at least four police officers who were on duty when 12 prisoners escaped from lawful custody over the weekend.
The detainees escaped from the Kilgoris Police Station cells in Transmara West Sub-County and now the DCI wants to establish the circumstances under which the inmates escaped.
County Criminal investigations Officer Mwenda Ethaiba said Police Constables Jane Njeri and Kelvin Njoroge were handing over to Police Constables Victor Owiti and Ann Ngei when the suspects overpowered them and fled to different directions.
“We have started investigations and we seek to establish whether there was laxity on the part of the officers. We will find out if there was any foul play,” said Mr Ethaiba.
He said investigations into the conduct of the officers who were keeping sentry had been launched and, if found guilty, the law would take its course.
Prisoners injured
Two of the prisoners were injured when one of the officers, Kelvin Njoroge, shot at him as he escaped. He sustained a gunshot wound in the leg. The suspect, Evans Osiemo, was being held on assault charges. A second suspect was arrested by officers who responded to the shooting.
“The daring cells break happened during a shift changeover between the 1st and 2nd sentry guard shifts. The prisoners are said to have forcibly pushed the officers and made their way out of their cells, but all this is subject to confirmation through a thorough investigation,” said Mr Ethaiba.
The Nation has established that among the inmates who escaped include Moses Kenyatta, 27, Peter Onzabo Kisii, 28, Simon Koech, 25, David Olewe, 27, Duke Ongeri Ongeri, 20, Wycliffe Jonson, 22, Shardrak Kipng'eno, 25, Tobiko Seur Masai, 29, Joshua Nayoma, 26, and John Nyabuto, 26.
The incident came hardly a week after another four prisoners escaped from Emurua Dikirr Police Station in Transmara East after they managed to dig a hole through the wall of the cell. The four are still at large.
Another suspect who was held under the custody of the Narok Law Courts fled last Saturday after police officers allowed him to go to the toilet within the court compound. He disappeared in unclear circumstances.
Police have urged the public to be on the lookout for the escaped suspects and report any suspicious persons as the hunt continues.
