11 criminals prison break through tunnel

Bungoma South Police headquarters cells where eleven criminals escaped. [Nathan Ochunge/Standard]

Eleven remandees have escaped from Bungoma South Police Station cells where they were being held temporarily.

They had just been arraigned at Bungoma Law Courts on Friday and were being held at the police cells awaiting Covid-19 tests before being transferred to Bungoma Prison.

“We suspect they uprooted a steel pillars in the cell which they used to dig through the wall,” said Wilson Nanga, Bungoma South Police Commander. "The cell had 25 remandees."

Police pursued and arrested one of the remandees whom they believe will help them trace the others.

“The arrested suspect was shot on the thigh by our officers after defying orders to surrender. He is receiving treatment,” said Nanga.

He said the suspects who fled include Brian Onyango, John Wanyonyi (robbery with violence), Clerkson Otieno (burglary) and Simon Wekesa (assault).

Others are Collins Nyukuri, Alex Muyekho, Bramwel Barasa, Pascal Namasaka, Emmanuel Wakoko, John Wekesa and Isaac Wekesa.

With the new Health Ministry protocols, prisoners are no longer taken directly to prisons after court sessions. They are tested for Covid-19 and left to stay at police cells until their results are out.

“Our cells are congested. It's now a challenge holding remandees in police stations. We are consulting widely to find a solution to this matter,” said Nanga.