Five Kenyan police officers were arraigned in court on Wednesday, accused of facilitating the escape of a suspected serial killer along with 12 others from a police station in Nairobi, according to court documents.
Prosecutors requested that the officers, who were on duty during the jailbreak on Tuesday, be detained for two weeks to allow for further investigation into their alleged involvement.
The court was asked for additional time to allow authorities to gather statements, review CCTV footage, and analyze the policemen’s mobile phones.
Among those who escaped was Collins Jumaisi, who had been arrested last month in connection with the murders of at least six women. The victims’ bodies were found wrapped in plastic bags and dumped in an old quarry now used as a rubbish site.
Police claim that Jumaisi confessed to the killings of 42 women, including his wife. However, his lawyer contested this in court, arguing that the confession was coerced through torture. Prosecutors have denied any mistreatment of Jumaisi.
Preliminary investigations suggest the jailbreak was aided by insiders, according to a police statement issued on Tuesday. A manhunt has been launched to recapture the escapees.
A police report reviewed by Reuters stated that Jumaisi and 12 Eritrean nationals were discovered missing from their cell around 05:00 (0200 GMT) on Tuesday. It is believed they escaped by cutting through a wire mesh over the window in their cell.
