How suspected robbers in cell tricked, strangled police officer

Two robbery with violence suspects tricked a police officer who they later strangled before they made a dramatic escape from Ruiru police station on Wednesday morning. 

The two suspects had been charged with robbery with violence and the matter was pending before Ruiru Law Courts.

According to the police headquarters, two were supposed to appear before court on Wednesday November 20, just few hours before they escaped.

The escape brings to at least 22, the number of robbery suspects from Kiambu County who have escaped from police custody in the last eight months.

One of the suspects Wyclif Kori Achola knocked the door of the cells and told the officers that he had a running stomach and wanted to be escorted to the toilet yesterday at around 5am.

An officer, Constable Christopher Mwangombe, who was performing normal duties opened the door and was immediately attacked by the prisoner who wrestled him down before he was joined by another robbery with violence suspect.

They two strangled the officer and then jumped over the wall and escaped to unknown destination.

It was not immediately established what the other officer, Constable Julia Nduta, was during the escape. 

The two had been charged by detectives from Githurai Kimbo police station -Criminal Register number 266/289/2019, and Court File number 1109/2019 -but were remanded at Ruiru after their first appearance in court. 

Police said an immediate search was conducted but by Wednesday evening, none of them had been apprehended.

In July 5 this year, another 17 robbery remandees escaped when a vehicle transporting them from Thika Law courts to the Industrial Area remand stalled in traffic in Kamukunji. 

In another escape in February this year, five robbery suspects and two others charged with narcotic drugs escaped from Makongeni police station in Thika.

According to the police headquarters, the suspects cut off the ventilation grills at around 4am and escaped on motorcycles. They left behind 14 suspects in custody.

In June this year, another suspect stole a G3 rifle before making a dramatic escape from Liter police post in Tot, Marakwet East.

Abel Kiplimo Rop had been taken to the police post by his brother on allegations of theft and attempted suicide.

After his arrest, he was handcuffed and locked in a room but he later removed the handcuffs and escaped.

He took advantage of the absence f the officers at the post and proceeded to the house of the in-charge where ransacked the house and stole the rifle that had been kept under the bed.