Suspected Kenyan Serial Killer Among 13 Escapees; 8 Officers Arrested

In a shocking turn of events, a Kenyan man identified as Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, who is implicated in the brutal murders and dismemberment of 42 women, reportedly escaped from a Nairobi prison in the early morning hours along with 12 other inmates. This incident, which officials confirmed on Tuesday, raises severe concerns regarding prison security and the handling of dangerous criminals.

Khalusha, 33 years old, was taken into custody last month after he allegedly confessed to a series of heinous crimes, including the death of his own wife. Officials became aware of the escape around 5 a.m. local time when the officer-in-charge and the food service manager discovered that the group was missing during breakfast service.

According to police reports, Khalusha and the other inmates managed to cut through wire mesh from their cells and then climbed over a perimeter wall to flee. Among the escapees were individuals from Eritrea, who were suspected to be in Kenya illegally.

In the wake of the escape, eight officers who were on duty at the time have been arrested. Acting Inspector General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, stated, “Our preliminary investigation indicates that the escape was facilitated by insiders. Any person found culpable will face the full force of law.”

Khalusha was initially arrested on July 15 around 3 a.m. in Soweto, east of Nairobi. He was apprehended outside a club where he was reportedly watching the final of the European 2024 soccer championship. His capture came after police uncovered a gruesome scene near an abandoned quarry in the city, where multiple bodies were discovered.

The authorities have labeled Khalusha as a “vampire” and a “psychopath” after he confessed to murdering numerous women over a two-year span. The dumping site, located approximately 300 feet from the area where he was residing, held at least 10 sacks full of body parts belonging to victims believed to be women aged between 18 and 30. So far, six of these bodies have been identified.

However, during a court appearance, Khalusha’s defense attorney, John Ndegwa, alleged that his client had been subjected to torture, leading to a coerced confession. As investigations continued, a judge ordered that Khalusha remain in custody for an additional 30 days.

Despite his claims of mistreatment, police reported that Khalusha confessed “on interrogation” to luring, killing, and disposing of the bodies of 42 women, including his wife, Imelda Judith Khalenya, between 2022 and July 11, 2023. Authorities assert that he strangled Khalenya before dismembering her and discarding her remains in the same location where other bodies were found.

This most recent escape comes just six months after another high-profile jailbreak involving Kevin Kangethe, a Kenyan wanted in the U.S. for murder, who fled from a separate Nairobi police station. Although he escaped moments after officers released him to see his lawyer, he was recaptured shortly after.

The escape of Khalusha and his accomplices has intensified scrutiny on the Kenyan police, especially following recent anti-government protests in Nairobi that resulted in several civilian fatalities and numerous reports of disappearances. Human rights organizations, along with Kenya’s Independent Police Oversight Authority, a civilian watchdog entity, have expressed their concerns regarding “widespread allegations of police involvement in unlawful arrests and abductions,” and they have initiated investigations into the quarry deaths Khalusha allegedly confessed to.

As the situation unfolds, the Kenyan public is left wondering about the safety and efficacy of a prison system that allows such dangerous individuals to escape, putting communities at risk once again.