A prisoner sent journalists text messages detailing why two inmates escaped from the Malindi GK Prison under what authorities termed as unclear circumstances.
The two inmates were serving between 10 and 15 years imprisonment escaped on foot after they were assigned their duties in the prison farms.
One of the prisoners broke the news to the media by sending a text message where he alleged his colleagues fled due to torture and mistreatment from wardens after serving more than 10 years at the prison.
The text read: “Juzi kuna wenzetu waligoma wakenda kuwatoa nguo uchi wa mnyama wakawapiga sana baada ya kujua kuwa waliambia wanahabari (Two days ago our colleagues went on hunger strike the officers went and undressed and beat them thoroughly after realizing they had leaked the matter to the media”.
[caption caption="Prisoners"]
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He maintained there were prison warders in the area who are notorious for torturing prisoners.
The officer in charge, Jonathan Mwavita, was holed up in a meeting with deputy commissioner of prisons and regional commander Joseph Mutevesi.
After the meeting between the two, Mutevesi confirmed the escape incident, adding he came to the prison after receiving reports of the two prisoners who went missing from the facility.
Speaking to members of the press the regional commander stated they had launched investigations to bring the culprits to book and disciplinary action will be taken against officers.
This is not the first incident of inmates who have attempted to escape from prison being reported in the country. In 2015 police officers released photos of three hardcore criminals who escaped from Kamiti Maximum prison and requested the public to report suspicious people.
[caption caption="Malindi GK prison where two prisoners escaped"]
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Officials revealed the incident happened at about 2 am when the prisoners cut a metal grill of their cell and made it out.
