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Nairobi authorities have put a price on the head of a suspected serial killer who managed to slip through the cracks and escape from a local police cell, announcing a cash reward for any information that could lead to the fugitive’s capture.
Nairobi police embarked on a frantic search operation on Tuesday following the shocking breakout of Collins Jumaisi, accused of a string of heinous murders and dismemberments targeting women, who escaped from a police station in an upscale area of the city, accompanied by 12 Eritrean detainees.
A Nairobi court made a contentious decision on Wednesday, releasing five police officers suspected of complicity in Jumaisi’s escape on a 200,000 Kenyan shilling bond, overruling prosecutors’ objections and their bid to keep the officers in custody for further questioning.
Collins Jumaisi, a 33-year-old described by authorities as a “vampire” and a “psychopath”, was taken into custody last month following the chilling discovery of multiple mutilated female corpses in a Mukuru slum area dumpsite, sparking widespread outrage and horror.
Police claim that Collins Jumaisi has confessed to a horrific killing spree, murdering 42 women over two years, starting with his own wife in 2022. Yet, Jumaisi maintains that he was tortured into making the confession, raising concerns about the integrity of the investigation.
Officers said Jumaisi and the other men escaped by cutting through a wire mesh roof where he was being held, before scaling a perimeter wall.
“A significant cash reward will be provided to anyone with credible information leading to the suspect’s arrest,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said, without specifying an amount.
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In a troubling déjà vu, Nairobi has experienced its second high-profile suspect escape in a mere six months, casting a harsh spotlight on the city’s struggling detention facilities and the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
Kenyans are seething with anger and disgust following the latest shocking turn in this gruesome tale, as the country struggles to come to terms with the sickening discovery of the mutilated women, sparking a national outcry for accountability.
The gruesome discovery has also raised uncomfortable questions about police vigilance, as the bodies were found a mere 100 meters from a police station, casting a shadow over the law enforcement agency’s ability to protect and serve.
Kenya’s Independent Police Oversight Authority has launched an investigation into potential police complicity or inaction in the gruesome murders, seeking to determine whether there was any involvement or a “failure to act” that could have prevented the tragic events.
Rights groups have consistently accused Kenyan police of engaging in unlawful killings and operating shadowy hit squads, but despite these damning allegations, few officers have been brought to justice, fueling concerns about impunity and a culture of violence.
