Nineteen male prisoners, who were being ferried to Industrial Area remand prison on Friday, July 5, escaped from a police vehicle that was stuck in traffic on Landhies Road in Nairobi.
Two of the remandees were, however, rearrested.
The prisoners were being moved from Thika to Industrial Area, when they forced themselves out of the police lorry of registration plate number GK A091T near Kamukunji Mosque at 11:30am.
Four law enforcement officers had been assigned to oversee the transfer of the inmates.
Police say the prisoners broke the vehicle’s grills and jumped off the lorry, and, thereafter, fled in different directions.
The 17, who escaped and are yet to be found, are: Sharif Juma, Peter Macharia, Davis Kimani, Sebastian Kanyotu, Isaac Wainaina, Moses Njoroge, Daniel Njuguna, Andrew Makau, Julius Wachira, Robert Maziwa, Joshua Onkundi, Alexander Muriithi, Samuel Chege, Johnson Ndegwa, Samuel Maina, Feonard Omondi and Josiah Mwangi.
The two prisoners who were recaptured at Marikiti area are James Kamau and Amos Wanyoike.
Kamau sustained bruises on his right knee, whereas Wanyoike sustained a bullet wound in his right hand.
The two, police say, were taken to Thika Level 5 Hospital for treatment, and will be charged with escape from lawful custody on Monday, July 8.
The incident was reported at Kamukunji Police Station on Friday by Corporal Paul Nangiro.
A hunt for the 17, who remain at large, is ongoing, with police saying investigations into the incident have begun.
All the inmates were facing robbery with violence charges.
