Five police officers from the Gigiri Police Station have been released on a personal bond of Ksh200,000 each, despite serious accusations of aiding the escape of a notorious serial killer and a group of detainees.
The dramatic events unfolded on Monday, August 20, when Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, a suspect in the murders of 42 women, and 12 other suspects managed to flee from custody.
The court's decision on Thursday, August 22, came after the officers were arraigned on Wednesday. The police had requested a 14-day detention to further investigate whether the officers were complicit in the escape of the 13 detainees.
State prosecutor James Gachoka and the police argued that the investigation was still ongoing and that the officers should remain in custody to facilitate a thorough probe.
Magistrate Martha Naanzushi, however, ruled that the five officers could be released on a personal bond. They have been ordered to report to the investigating officer twice a week as the investigation continues.
The escape of Collins Jumaisi, who had confessed to a horrific string of murders since 2022, including that of his wife, has sent shockwaves through Nairobi. Jumaisi and the 12 Eritreans reportedly escaped through a cut wire mesh over a window at the Gigiri Police Station. The jailbreak was discovered around 5:00am on Monday, prompting an immediate manhunt.
According to Officer Benedict Kaulu, who is leading the investigation, statements from over five witnesses are still pending. The officers' mobile phones have been sent to the cybercrime unit for forensic analysis, and CCTV footage from the station is also under review.
Prosecutors have raised concerns that the escape may have been facilitated by insiders within the police force. The detained officers were on duty at the time of the escape, adding to suspicions of internal complicity. There are fears that the release of the officers could hinder the investigation, as they are suspected of potentially having a role in the escape.
On Thursday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) intensified efforts to rearrest Jumaisi offering a significant reward for any information leading to his arrest.
The daring jailbreak on Monday, has sparked outrage and suspicion, with authorities now focusing on what appears to be an inside job.
The brazen escape, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, has raised serious questions about the integrity of the police officers stationed at Gigiri.
New details indicate that Jumaisi, a man accused of killing 42 women, and his co-escapees did not flee under the cover of darkness but simply walked out of the precinct's main door.
This happened under the watchful eyes of two police officers on night shift duty, who, according to eyewitness accounts, may have been complicit in the escape.
DCI has now offered a significant cash reward for any information that could lead to the re-arrest of Jumaisi. "A significant cash reward will be provided to anyone with credible information leading to the suspect's arrest," the agency stated in a notice published in the Daily Nation on Thursday, August 22. The agency is appealing to the public to assist in what has now become a high-stakes manhunt for the dangerous fugitive.
Investigations into the jailbreak have taken a sharp turn, with detectives zeroing in on the mobile phone records and financial transactions of the police officers who were on duty that night. The forensic analysis of these communications is expected to shed light on the possible involvement of the officers in facilitating the escape.
