Eight prisoners escaped from Wundanyi Prison in Taita Taveta County on Saturday night, leading to an ongoing investigation by authorities.
Senior prison officials are at the facility to understand how the escape happened and whether any officers on duty were involved.
Reports by Taifa leo indicate that the breakout occurred at around 11:40 p.m. when prison officers were distracted while watching a La Liga football match between Real Madrid and Real Valladolid.
The match, which ended in a 3-0 win for Real Madrid, reportedly captured their attention, leaving the prisoners unsupervised.
The escape was discovered when other inmates, fearing punishment, informed the officers when they returned.
Investigations show that the escapees cut through the metal bars of their cell before fleeing.
The affected cell housed 37 remandees awaiting court appearances.
By Sunday, three of the eight prisoners had been rearrested, while a search for the remaining five is still ongoing.
Security personnel have intensified the manhunt, with officers searching the surrounding areas for clues.
On Sunday, the Commissioner General of Prisons, Patrick Aranduh, visited Wundanyi Prison to assess the situation.
A meeting was held on Monday between prison headquarters officials and Taita Taveta County’s prison commander, Frank Opondo, to discuss the security failure.
The meeting lasted nearly the entire day as officers tried to understand how the prisoners managed to escape unnoticed.
Local residents reported hearing sirens and commotion late Saturday night, but most were unaware of what was happening.
Some feared that there was a fire or another emergency in the area.
The prison authorities have assured the public that efforts are underway to capture the remaining fugitives and prevent future security lapses.
Coastal Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha confirmed that the manhunt for the escapees is still ongoing.
Security in the area has been tightened, and measures are being taken to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.
Authorities are also looking into the conduct of the officers on duty at the time of the escape to determine if negligence played a role.
The incident has raised concerns about prison security and the level of discipline among officers responsible for monitoring inmates. The public is urged to report any suspicious individuals to the police as the search for the five fugitives continues.
