Eight police officers have been suspended after a dramatic escape from Gigiri Police Station, where 13 prisoners, including the notorious Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, managed to break free early Tuesday morning.

The acting Inspector General of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, confirmed the suspensions, which include the Gigiri Sub-County Commander, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), and several other officers involved in the incident.

The escape, described by Masengeli as an “inside job,” has sent shockwaves through the National Police Service, leading to swift disciplinary action. The officers in question are currently in police custody as investigations into the escape intensify.

Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, the most high-profile of the escapees, had previously confessed to a series of brutal murders, claiming the lives of at least 42 women in the Kware area of Embakasi between 2022 and 2024. His shocking confessions, which included the murder and dismemberment of his own wife, had gripped the nation and led to heightened security around his custody.

However, in the early hours of Tuesday, Khalusha and 12 other detainees, who were being held on charges related to illegal immigration, managed to cut through the cell’s wire mesh during a routine breakfast service and escape. The incident occurred around 5:00 a.m., catching the officers on duty by surprise.

The escape has raised serious concerns about security protocols within the police force, prompting a thorough investigation led by Masengeli, alongside the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) chief Amin Mohamed and Kenya Police Service Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the station to gather more details about how the escape was orchestrated.

A massive manhunt is now underway to recapture Khalusha and the other escapees, with police expressing confidence that they will soon be apprehended. The public remains on high alert as the search continues, with many questioning how such a dangerous criminal could evade justice so easily.