Suspects splash human waste at officers

By Cyrus Ombati

More than 30 suspected criminals tried to escape from police cells after splashing human faeces at police officers.

Officers manning the report office at Nairobi’s Central Police Station had to dash out for safety as some of the suspects broke out of their cells armed with human waste which they hurled at them.

The 1pm incident yesterday, happened as the suspects were being served with lunch.

Witnesses and police said the suspects took advantage when the doors were opened to launch an attack that caught the officers off guard.

The rioters had apparently broken a sewerage system that passes through the cells.

Business at the busiest police station was halted for almost two hours as more officers were called in to contain the situation.

The rioters splashed the report office, their cells and corridors with the waste.

Four police officers had to be driven to their houses to change their clothes after they were splashed with the faeces.

The situation normalised when armed police arrived and sealed off the entrance.

They drove the rioters back to the cells before forcing them to wash the faeces they had splashed in the area.

The incident drew attention of passersby and motorists who watched from a distance as the armed officers issued orders at the suspects to wash the waste. It is not clear what motivated the suspects to riot but police blamed it on hardcore criminals including street children.

Central OCPD Tito Kilonzi said he had launched investigations into the incident.

"I think there are people there who incited others to riot but we are going to take action," he said.

Yesterday was the second time suspects have rioted at the facility. They did the same in 2005.