By ROSELYNE OBALA
Seven suspects have escaped from Bungoma Police station.
The culprits were to face various charges, which include robbery, defilement and burglary.
However, police managed to rearrest one within Bungoma Town and is assisting them with investigations.
Western Deputy Provincial Police Officer (DPPO) Gerald Mbaabu confirmed the break out at that the station and is leading the investigations.
“Three of the robbery suspects had been arraigned in court and remanded at the station for further investigations,” he explained.
Mr Mbaabu said the other four were set to appear in court today (yesterday) charged with defilement, burglary and robbery.
“The suspects were to answer to charges of defilement and burglary cases each and two for robbery,” he noted.
The DPPO said the officers on duty opened the cell to release a suspect they had arrested earlier and whom they had no evidence against.
“The officers had opened the cell to free a watchman at the time of cell break out,” he added.
The incident happened on Thursday night at around 9.30 pm.
Mbaabu said the suspects secured their freedom during the time.
“I am leading the search for the remaining six suspects. We are also interrogating the officers to establish exactly what happened,” he said.
The senior officer said they will probe the matter to ascertain if the escape resulted from negligence on the side of the officers or collusion between them and the suspects.
“It is too early to rule out anything. We must dig deep to get the truth on how the suspects earned their freedom at the station,” he maintained.
Mbaabu said the rearrested suspect is instrumental in their search.
At the time of going to press, it was not clear how many officers were on duty at the time of break out.
The affected officers were also yet to be arrested or reprimanded of the escape.
Mbaabu appealed to members of the public to alert them if they spotted the suspects or have any useful information that will lead to their rearrests.
