This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
On November 18, 2021, a daring escape from Kamiti Maximum Prison sparked a countrywide manhunt. Three terror convicts, Mohamed Ali Abikar, Joseph Juma Odhiambo, and Musharaf Abdalla Akhulunga, had dug a hole on the wall to escape the heavily-guarded facility.
After a multi-agency effort, the three were arrested in Kitui on Thursday morning by a team of detectives who had been tracking them. The arrest was made possible by a tip-off from locals.
Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti confirmed the arrest, stating, "The convicts have been arrested, all the three who escaped from Kamiti prison." The three had a Sh20 million bounty each on their head.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi welcomed the recapture of the convicts, thanking Kenyans and the multi-agency team for their efforts. He tweeted, "The 3 escapees are back to Kamiti. I am grateful to Kenyans and the multi-agency team for the good work. Our security personnel are on high alert, let us all remain vigilant."
Following the escape, top prisons boss Wycliffe Ogallo was sacked, and two senior prisons officials and 7 warders were charged in court for their roles in the escape.
