This archive report was first published on 15 October 2021.
On October 15, 2021, a shocking turn of events unfolded in Bungoma, Kenya, as Masten Wanjala, a self-confessed serial killer, met his untimely demise at the hands of a mob.
Wanjala's death came just a day after he escaped from police custody at Jogoo Road Police Station in Nairobi, where he was being held over the murders of at least 14 boys in Nairobi, Eastern, and Western Kenya.
According to reports, Wanjala took advantage of a blackout at the police station to escape, and it was not until morning that his absence was discovered.
Lawyer Danstan Omari, representing the police officers on duty, attributed the escape to the state's failure to provide light, stating, 'Your honour, on the day the suspect escaped from police custody, there was no light. The state failed to provide light, so the police officers on duty took shifts at 7pm in total darkness using the spotlight on their phones to count suspects.'
Wanjala's escape and subsequent death have raised questions about the handling of his case and the accountability of those responsible for his custody.
As the investigation into Wanjala's death continues, one thing is clear: justice has been served, albeit in a manner that has left many questioning the system.
