FIVE Kenyan police officers have appeared in court and faced charges of assisting in the escape of a suspected serial killer and 12 others from a police station in Nairobi, according to court documents obtained by Reuters.
The officers were on duty during the jailbreak that occurred on Tuesday.
Reuters reports that prosecutors requested that the court detain the accused officers for an additional two weeks to allow for a thorough investigation into their potential involvement.
They emphasized the need for more time to gather statements, review CCTV footage, and analyze the officers’ mobile phones.
Among those who escaped was Collins Jumaisi, who had been arrested the previous month in connection with the murders of at least six women.
The victims’ bodies were found wrapped in plastic bags and discarded in an old quarry now serving as a dump site. Jumaisi allegedly confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife, though his lawyer claimed in court that the confession was obtained through torture. Prosecutors have denied any mistreatment of Jumaisi.
Police said in a statement on Tuesday that preliminary investigations pointed to inside assistance in the escape. A manhunt has been launched to recapture the fugitives.
A police report seen by Reuters detailed that Jumaisi, along with 12 Eritrean nationals, was discovered missing from their cell around 5:00 AM local time (0200 GMT) on Tuesday.
Authorities believe the escapees managed to break free by cutting through a wire mesh over their cell window.
