Court Sentences THREE Kamiti Escapees Fresh 15 Years Each
Principal Magistrate Gideon Kiage, sitting at the Kahawa Law Courts, sentenced Musharaf Abdala, Mohamed Ali Abikar and Joseph Juma Odhiambo to serve 15 years each upon completion of their existing sentences.
The trio were convicted of committing a terrorist act contrary to Section 4(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
They had been imprisoned for varying periods ranging from about 15 to 41 years depending on the individual, prior to their escape and subsequent rearrest.
“The prosecution established that on the night of 14th November and the morning of 15th November 2021, the three knowingly escaped from lawful custody at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in a manner that prejudiced national security,” the DPP stated.
According to the DPP, the court found that the circumstances surrounding their escape and subsequent movements demonstrated that the three shared a common intention to evade recapture and remain together.
Principal Magistrate Kiage noted that the three did not separate after escaping but travelled together from Kamiti to Kitui and later to Endao.
“If their only intention was to flee and evade re-capture, it would have made more sense to split up and go in different directions. This would have reduced their chances of detection,” the court ruled.
The DPP said evidence presented before the court showed that after escaping from Kamiti, the three travelled by motorcycle and public service vehicles to Kitui town before proceeding by vehicle to Endao.
From Endao, they trekked on foot through informal routes in an attempt to avoid detection, the DPP said.
The prosecution said they did not possess identification documents, making it necessary for them to use routes that could help them evade security officers.
The court subsequently ordered each of the three to serve an additional 15-year sentence, although the starting point of the term differed depending on their individual circumstances.
Odhiambo was serving a 15-year prison sentence before the escape.
“He had previously been convicted in Mandera of offences relating to travelling to a terrorist-designated country, failure to report his departure and leaving Kenya through a non-designated border point,” the DPP said.
ALSO READ:
- Questions Over Procurement Of Newly Unveiled Police Uniform, Murkomen Defends Decision
- Court Sentences THREE Kamiti Escapees Fresh 15 Years Each
- Protests Erupt In Nairobi CBD As Traders March Towards KRA Offices, Decry Exorbitant Taxes
- Relief For Gov’t As Nurses Ready To End Strike, Set Conditions For County, National Level
- Details of Changes Treasury Proposes To Replace eCitizen Fees, MPs Question Controversial Clause
The court ordered him to begin serving the additional 15 years after completing his existing sentence.
Abikar was serving a cumulative 41-year prison term following his conviction at the Milimani Law Courts in connection with the 2015 Garissa University attack, in which 148 people were killed.
According to the DPP, his additional 15-year sentence will take effect after he completes the 41-year term.
Abdala had previously been sentenced to 22 years in prison before the High Court acquitted him on appeal.
The court ordered him to serve the additional 15-year term from the date of his acquittal.
The case stems from the November 2021 escape, which triggered a major security operation after the three convicts managed to leave the country’s maximum-security prison.
Court Sentences THREE Kamiti Escapees Fresh 15 Years Each
