A suspect who confessed to killing 42 women and was being detained over the discovery of dismembered bodies in Nairobi, Kenya, has escaped from police custody along with 12 other inmates of Eritrean nationality. The escape occurred after the inmates cut through wire mesh in the cell and scaled the perimeter wall. The suspect, Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, 33, had been arrested in July after 10 bodies and several body parts were found in plastic sacks in the Kware area of Nairobi. He confessed to the killings, including that of his wife. Khalusha was being detained while detectives investigated his alleged crimes before charging him.
The escape of Khalusha and the other inmates was discovered during breakfast time at the police station. Acting police inspector general Gilbert Masengeli said disciplinary measures have been taken against eight officers, including area and station commanders. Khalusha’s lawyer, John Maina Ndegwa, claimed that his client was tortured and forced to confess, maintaining his innocence. The police station from which the suspects escaped was cordoned off with crime scene tape, and senior police officers visited the site. Two other suspects, found with cellphones belonging to some of the deceased women, are set to return to court next Monday.
The police report indicated that the escape may have been aided by insiders, as the officers on duty failed to prevent it despite being properly deployed to guard the station. Mohamed Amin, the head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, called Khalusha a high-value suspect who was set to face serious charges. The discovery of the bodies in the quarry was made after the relatives of a missing woman had a dream in which she told them to search in the quarry. A local diver was asked for help, and he discovered the bodies wrapped in sacks. While six bodies were identified through DNA tests, several body parts remain unidentified.
Khalusha’s lawyer, John Maina Ndegwa, expressed surprise at the news of his client’s escape. Ndegwa had last spoken to Khalusha on Friday when he was presented in court. He maintained that Khalusha was forced to confess to the killings and was not guilty. The escape of Khalusha and the other inmates is a significant setback for law enforcement in Kenya. The authorities are conducting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the escape and will take appropriate actions based on their findings. The escape of these high-value suspects raises concerns about the effectiveness of the security measures in place at police stations and the need for greater vigilance.
The police in Kenya are facing mounting pressure to address the issue of violent crime and to improve the protection of citizens. The escape of Khalusha and his accomplices highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling crime and maintaining security. The authorities must address the gaps in security protocols that allowed the escape to occur and take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident raises questions about the integrity of the criminal justice system in Kenya and the need for reforms to ensure that suspects are treated fairly and that justice is served. It is essential for the police to reevaluate their procedures for detaining and guarding suspects to prevent such escapes from happening again.
