Kamiti Prison Officers Convicted for Aiding 2021 Terror Convicts’ Escape

Prison officers have been convicted for their role in aiding the 2021 escape of terrorism convicts from Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.

Senior Principal Magistrate Boaz Ombewa found that the escape was deliberately facilitated by prison staff rather than being a spontaneous breach. In his judgment, he said the officers abused their positions by enabling movements and interactions that allowed inmates to plan and coordinate the breakout over time.

The court heard that officers authorised the transfer of an inmate to a cell in the Condemned Block, where a meeting of prisoners was held. Prosecutors said this meeting played a central role in organising the escape. 

The Director of Public Prosecutions stated that officers “directly and/or indirectly wilfully aided the escape of inmates serving sentences for terrorism-related offences” and arranged a gathering at Condemned Block A, Cell No. 6.

Fourteen prosecution witnesses testified, outlining a sequence of actions that showed both neglect of duty and active assistance. 

The magistrate convicted the officers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012, as well as provisions of the Penal Code and the Prisons Act. Sentencing has been set for 20 January 2026.

During the trial, evidence was presented on weaknesses within the prison service, including corruption linked to low pay, limited training for managing high-risk inmates, and poor working conditions. The court heard that inadequate allowances for escort duties and other resource gaps increased the risk of collusion between staff and prisoners.

The escaped inmates were arrested four days later in Kitui County while attempting to cross into Somalia. Under Kenyan law, prison officers who assist escapes can be jailed for up to seven years for neglect of duty, while offences related to aiding terrorism carry sentences of up to 20 years. Convicted officers may also be dismissed from service under the Prisons Act.