NAIROBI,Kenya, Nov, 17 – Moments after president Uhuru Kenyatta at State House Nairobi oversaw the swearing in of Brigadier (Rtd) John Kibaso Warioba as the new Kenya Prisons Commissioner General, his predecessor Wycliffe Ogallo was reportedly arrested by Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)
Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) Officers could be seen at Magereza House, the Prisons Headquarters storming the building in a bid to arrest Ogallo.
Also said to have been arrested is Kamiti Maximum Prisons Commandant Charles Mutembei.
Ogallo’s lawyer Assa Nyakundi told Shahidi News that his client has however since been released without any explanation on why he was taken to the DCI headquarters.
“He has been released unconditionally. He is now free but I don’t know about the others,” said Nyakundi.
The National Police Service in a tweet however refuted the claims saying that the former prisons boss was not arrested.
“The reporting appearing in mainstream and social media that the former Kenya Prisons Service’s Commissioner General Mr. Wycliffe Ogallo has been arrested by police is not accurate as stated. This is to clarify that police only facilitated a smooth and seamless handover of office,” read a section of the tweet from the national police service.
Seven other prison officers have since been arrested following the shocking prison break by three convicted terror suspects.
The escaped inmates include: Mohammed Ali Abikar who was jailed for 41 years for his role in the Garissa university Attack.
Musharraf Abdallah alias Shukri or Alex Shikanda was serving a 22 year sentence after he was convicted for being in possession of explosives and firearms. He is also said to have been planning an attack on parliament in 2019.
Joseph Juma Odhiambo was convicted for travelling to a terrorist designated country without passing through a designated immigration exit point and failing to report departure to the immigration office
President Uhuru Kenyatta Wednesday directed the interior ministry to hasten the immediate capture of the three terror fugitives.
Those found culpable the head of state said should be brought to full account.
“In keeping with our ethos of good governance, in the intervening period and pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigations, the State Department of Correctional Services has similarly been directed to sanction disciplinary action against all Kenya Prisons Service personnel who were on duty when the security breaches occurred; which action shall include redeployment and/or immediate suspension of all affected officers,” read section of the presidential notification.
Kenyans on the other hand have been warned to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to police.
The DCI placed a Sh60 million bounty on the recapture of the three fugitives.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
