Three Kamiti prisons warders convicted for aiding escape of terrorists

Three Kamiti Maximum Prison officers who aided the escape of terrorist inmates in 2021 were Tuesday found guilty.

Kahawa Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Boaz Ombewa noted that the escape was clearly well planned and must have taken a considerable amount of time to execute.

Robert Kipkirui Soi, Kaikai Talengo Moses, and Willy Wambua were convicted of the offences of neglect of official duty, aiding prisoners’ escape, and organising a meeting in support of a terrorist group.

Principal Prosecution Counsels James Machirah and Kennedy Amwayi called 14 witnesses and proved beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts aided the escape of Musharaf Abdala alias Shukri alias Sharif alias Alex Shikanda alias Rashid Swaitar, Mohamed Ali Abikar, and Joseph Juma Odhiambo on the night of November 14, 2021, and the morning of November 15, 2021, at GK Kamiti Maximum Security Prison within Kasarani Sub-County in Nairobi City County. Abdala, Ali, and Juma were serving sentences for terrorism-related offences.

The court found that on the night of November 14, 2021, and the morning of November 15, 2021, at GK Kamiti Maximum Security Prison within Kasarani Sub-County in Nairobi City County, Soi and Talengo, being Kenya Prisons Service officers, jointly and wilfully neglected to prevent the escape of convicted prisoners Abdala, Ali, and Juma.

Wambua was convicted of the offences of aiding prison escape and organising a meeting in support of a terrorist group.

Prosecuting Counsel proved to the court that on or before November 15, 2021, at GK Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in Kasarani Sub-County within Nairobi City County, Wambua directly and/or indirectly wilfully aided the escape of convicts who were in lawful custody serving sentences for terrorism-related offences and organized a meeting between four convicted terror inmates at Condemned Block “A,” Cell No. 6, by facilitating the movement of Abdul Majid Yassin from Cell No. 2 to Cell No. 6, in contravention of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2012.

The case is coming up for a sentence hearing on January 20, 2026.

Meanwhile, two brothers were arraigned for the fraudulent acquisition of a prime piece of land valued at approximately Sh5 billion in Mau Narok, Njoro Sub-County.

Investigations have since revealed that this land, which measures around 4,296 acres, was purchased by the rightful owner from Class Kenya Farming Limited Settlement Fund Trustees for Sh5 million, as documented in an agreement dated June 13, 1977, drawn up by T. K. Patel. For years, the land has been embroiled in a legal dispute between the two suspects, Josphat Munke Ole Mpoe and Joseph Kakore Ole Mpoe, who are brothers, and the rightful owner.

The brothers claim that the land belonged to their late father, Kikenyi Ole Mpoe, based on a forged title grant. They obtained Limited Grant Letters of Administration from the High Court of Kenya in Nakuru on March 23, 2023, under the pretence of claiming interest in the property.

However, LFIU detectives uncovered that the brothers were previously farm managers on the property and that the title they presented is a complete forgery. Following extensive investigations, the case file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Upon thorough review, the ODPP directed that the suspects be charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, forcible detainer, giving false information to a public servant, and false swearing.

Appearing before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nakuru, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released on bond terms of Sh2 million with surety of a similar amount or cash bail of Sh1 million each.