Three nurses have been charged with aiding the escape of 81 mentally ill patients from Mathari Hospital last week.
The court heard that Jackline Obonyo, Jacqueline Rebecca Oloo and Isaac Maina allegedly unlocked the entrance gates at the mental institution, allowing the patients to escape.
At the time, nurses were on strike and their actions were perceived to have been as a result of anger towards the government for not paying their dues.
Court Prosecutor Solomon Naulikha stated that the conduct of the three nurses was reckless and exposed patients to harm.
"These patients posed a danger to the general public since they have mental issues.
"Members of the public may have hurt the patients in retaliation of any form of attack," he said.
Each of the suspects was released on a Sh200,000 bond and the case will be heard after two weeks.
Last week, police were on high alert after the escape and earlier reports had indicated that nurses pretended to be offering treatment to them only to unlock the gates.
The patients ran into different directions and some found their way to the busy Thika Superhighway.
One of the patients sustained serious injuries after he was hit by a speeding vehicle while running across the highway.
