A dramatic manhunt is underway in Nairobi’s Kibera slums after a convicted inmate mysteriously escaped from police custody during a court appearance at the Kibera Law Courts.
The prisoner, serving a 20-year sentence at Kamiti Maximum Prison, was brought before Court 3 on Wednesday, July 23, in relation to a fresh armed robbery case. Shockingly, he managed to disappear despite being handcuffed and escorted under tight security.
What followed was a daring flight through the court’s back perimeter, past at least four separate security points, and straight into the winding, densely built terrain of Kibera.
Sources familiar with the incident say the escape occurred in broad daylight, with the prisoner using his apparent familiarity with the area to outmaneuver the guards. Investigators now believe terrain advantage, lapses in supervision, and possible internal oversight failures all played a role in the breach.
The escapee had previously been on death row, but a successful appeal saw his sentence commuted to 20 years imprisonment, to be served concurrently beginning December 11, 2023. His court appearance this week was linked to a separate violent robbery case from November 2023, in which he was accused of shooting and injuring a man in Lang’ata.
In response to the escape, law enforcement agencies have sealed off sections of Kibera as a full-scale search operation continues. Dozens of officers have been deployed, with patrols intensified and foot chases reported through the maze-like alleys of the slum.
So far, prison authorities have not released an official statement on the incident, sparking growing concern about how a high-risk prisoner could vanish from a secure court facility. The spotlight is now on court security procedures, and how someone in shackles could outwit an armed escort and slip into one of the country’s most crowded neighborhoods.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious sightings, though many say they are uneasy about the increased police presence in the community.
