Residents of Wundanyi in Taita Taveta on Tuesday, January 27, demanded the immediate arrest of eight prisoners who recently escaped from a local prison.
Speaking for the first time since the bizarre incident, residents expressed their fear in the wake of the prisoners’ escape stating that they were a threat to their safety and that of their loved ones.
“We fear for our lives and businesses because we know of the crimes they committed. We are in constant fear because they have still not been apprehended. We want to plead to the government to arrest those prisoners, get them back to prison so that we can be assured of our safety,” a resident lamented.
Emphasising the urgency of their capture, local residents urged the relevant authorities to release images of the escaped prisoners to aid in their swift arrest.
A undated photo of the Wundanyi Prison sign post.
Photo
Benson Maghanga
“If possible we urge the government to post the pictures of the criminals who escaped so that it is easier for these prisoners to be arrested,” another resident added.
The residents questioned the competence of the relevant authorities in allowing the prisoners to slip from their grasp, blaming them for the increased danger posed to them.
“Where were the prison guards when these individuals were escaping? And how did they escape? And what time did they escape? Ever since they escaped, did they launch a manhunt for them? If caught, will they be jailed for life or what?” one resident quipped.
The eight suspects broke free after scaling and compromising the facility’s roof in a dramatic escape at Wundanyi prison on Sunday, January 26.
They have since been identified as Patrick Karisa, Erickson Mwachofi, Samuel Onyango, Alex Makezi, Edward Maighasho, Robert Mchungwa, Mwangemi Mwanyange and Joseph Kalama.
It is, however, unclear how all eight suspects managed to elude guards at the facility during the prison break that reads like a script from a movie.
The suspects were locked up for an array of crimes ranging from theft, rape defilement, causing bodily harm and burglary.
Prior to the recent escape, Wundanyi Prison had been on the good books as far as the facility’s reputation is concerned, with the last prison break incident being reported in 2018 when an inmate escaped, only to be caught after three months.
Update: Police have so far arrested three of the eight fugitives. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend the remaining escaped prisoners.
An image of someone scaling a fence.
Photo
Courtesy