Three officers at Kamiti Maximum Prison have been found guilty of facilitating the breakout of six terror convicts in November 2021, after a court ruled their actions deliberately undermined prison security and allowed convicted terrorists to escape.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) successfully secured the conviction of Robert Kipkirui Soi, Kaikai Talengo Moses and Willy Wambua for their role in the jailbreak, which the Kahawa Law Courts described as a carefully planned operation requiring considerable preparation.
Delivering his judgment on Tuesday, Senior Principal Magistrate Boaz Ombewa said the escape was “clearly well-planned and must have taken a considerable amount of time to execute.”
The three officers were convicted of neglect of official duty, aiding prisoners escape and organising a meeting in support of a terrorist group.
Principal prosecution counsels James Machirah and Kennedy Amwayi called 14 witnesses and proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the convicts aided the escape of Musharaf Abdala, alias Shukri, Sharif, Alex Shikanda, Rashid Swaitar, Mohamed Ali Abikar, and Joseph Juma Odhiambo on the night of November 14, 2021 and the morning of November 15, 2021, at GK Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in Kasarani Sub-County, Nairobi City County.
Abdala, Ali and Juma were serving sentences for terrorism-related offences.
The trio, who had escaped from the country’s most secure prison, were arrested in a remote village in Kitui County on November 18, 2021, after a tense manhunt. (Photo: Courtesy)
“The court found that Soi and Talengo jointly wilfully neglected to prevent the escape of convicted prisoners, namely Abdala, Ali, and Juma, while Wambua was convicted of aiding the escape and organising a meeting in support of a terrorist group,” the DPP said.
Prosecutors further established that Wambua facilitated the movement of Abdul Majid Yassin from Cell No. 2 to Cell No. 6 in Condemned Block “A,” in contravention of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012.
The case is scheduled for a sentence hearing on January 20, 2026.
At the time, Abdala, Ali and Juma were serving sentences of 42, 22 and 15 years respectively.
The court found that the prosecution, led by Principal Prosecution Counsels James Machirah, Ken Amwayi, Harrison Kiarie and Gideon Kiprono, had established a prima facie case against the officers.
A Sh60 million bounty had been placed on their heads for information leading to their capture.
Musharaf Abdala had been arrested on September 30, 2012, for involvement in a foiled terror attack targeting Parliament Buildings and was charged with possession of explosives, ammunition and firearms.
Mohamed Ali Abikar, a militant involved in the 2015 Garissa University attack, was serving a 41-year sentence. Joseph Juma Odhiambo was also serving a terrorism-related sentence.
Security sources revealed the fugitives were found in Malalani market in Endau, about 100 kilometres east of Kitui town, after local shopkeepers reported seeing them buying milk, bottled water, bread, and biscuits.
Kitui County Police Commander Leah Kithei said the suspects were arrested in the Mwingemi area while attempting to reach the Mwingi-Garissa highway, moving under cover of darkness to avoid detection.
A large-scale operation by security forces, including anti-terror and anti-stock theft police units, was launched following the tip-off to prevent the suspects from fleeing to neighbouring counties or Somalia.
Court records indicate that the convicts escaped through a drill hole in Cell No. 6, using a metal bar and nails, and covered it with a piece of mattress. They also fashioned a makeshift climbing contraption by cutting blankets into strips and tying them together, using a razor blade.
Evidence submitted included a chisel, two razor blades and two nails used in the escape.