×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Informed Minds Prefer The Standard
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

When Italian prisoners of war escaped jail to climb Mt Kenya

The 'Travelers Church' was built by Italian prisoners of war in 1942 on the Maai Mahiu escarpment. [George Njunge, Standard]

For any incarcerated person, a dash to freedom, however brief, is seen as an act of bravado among fellow inmates. 

In Kenya, the most famous attempt to escape was made by the infamous "King'ong'o six" in September 2000. The attempt by the six inmates was thwarted by prison warders who went ahead to bludgeon them to death. The warders were later sentenced to death. 

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week
Uncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in