A terror suspect, Muse Muhumed Abdule, has escaped from police custody under unclear circumstances at Elwak police station in Mandera County. The incident, which occurred on the morning of Friday, February 14, has raised serious concerns about security lapses within detention facilities across the country.
Abdule had been in custody since February 9 after being arrested over suspected involvement in terror-related activities. Following his arrest, he was presented in court, where an order was issued for his continued detention at the Elwak police station pending further investigations and arraignment. However, when a police officer arrived to pick him up for interrogation, he was nowhere to be found.
Authorities have since arrested two police officers who were on duty at the time of the escape. Preliminary investigations indicate that there was no break-in at the police station, leading to suspicions of possible negligence or internal collusion. Despite an extensive search, Abdule remains at large.
Mandera County has experienced a surge in terror-related activities, necessitating heightened security operations. The escape of a suspect linked to such activities has amplified concerns regarding the effectiveness of current detention measures. Law enforcement agencies have been urged to intensify their search efforts and ensure the suspect is apprehended before he poses a greater threat.
This incident is the latest in a worrying trend of escapes from lawful custody. In the past two years, nearly 250 suspects—many of them facing serious criminal charges—have escaped from police stations and prison facilities across the country. The recurring nature of these incidents highlights systemic weaknesses in handling high-risk detainees.
Barely two weeks ago, fourteen suspects escaped from custody in separate incidents at Wundanyi Prisons, as well as police stations in Bomet and Moiben. On January 26, eight suspects cut through iron sheets of the roof at Wundanyi Prisons, escaping unnoticed until a routine check later revealed their absence. Five have since been rearrested.
That same night, a suspect at Cheseon police station in Bomet Central also managed to escape through the roof while the officer on duty had left to order food for him. Another breakout was reported at Moiben police station, where five prisoners fled after discovering that their cell door had not been securely locked with a padlock.
These incidents emphasize the need for stricter security measures, especially for high-profile detainees. Officers responsible for guarding suspects of significant criminal influence must adhere to special precautionary protocols, including enhanced surveillance, secure cell locking mechanisms, and continuous monitoring. Until such measures are effectively implemented, cases of jailbreaks and security breaches will remain a major challenge for law enforcement in Kenya.
