Murder fugitives tarnish Kenya's international police reputation

Kenya is renowned for its strong police and intelligence services both within and beyond Africa.

However, despite this reputation, the country has occasionally found itself in negative international spotlight due to the mysterious escape of some high-profile suspects from police custody.

In this article, we highlight several cases of notorious murder suspects who have escaped custody and tarnished the reputation of Kenya’s police and intelligence services.

Masten Wanjala

In October 2021, the intelligence agency was praised for uncovering a horrifying case after arresting Masten Wanjala, who later confessed to a series of murders involving dozens of children.

Wanjala told investigators that he had carried out a string of child murders and buried the bodies in shallow graves in the Kabete area.

Media reports indicated that Wanjala had meticulously recorded all the gruesome murders he was accused of, and in some cases, was reported to have sucked blood from his victims. He was linked to the deaths of at least 12 children.

Following his confession, Wanjala was detained at the Jogoo Road police station awaiting trial. However, a few days later, the nation was shocked to learn that he had escaped custody.

A manhunt was launched but was unsuccessful, and he was later reportedly attacked and killed by enraged villagers in Bungoma County.

Wanjala’s escape raised many questions both nationally and internationally, with media questioning the circumstances surrounding his escape.

Kevin Kang’ethe Kinyanjui

In February of this year, another murder suspect, Kenyan Kevin Kang’ethe, was apprehended in Kenya after fleeing the United States.

Kang’ethe had been wanted by U.S. authorities for the murder of a woman at an American airport before boarding a flight and fleeing to Kenya.

After his arrest, Kang’ethe was held at the Muthaiga police station awaiting extradition to the U.S. to face murder charges.

However, the suspect managed to escape while being held, reportedly leaping into a public transport vehicle before disappearing.

Kang’ethe’s escape also raised many questions about the handling of suspects and, once again, highlighted concerns over the effectiveness of police operations, drawing criticism from the international community.

Collins Jumaisi Khalusha

In July of this year, Kenya was plunged into darkness after several body parts were discovered dumped in a filthy trash heap in Kware, Embakasi.

On July 15, 2024, officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested Collins Jumaisi, the prime suspect in these murders.

During a press briefing, DCI Chief Mohamed Amin stated that 33-year-old Collins was apprehended in Soweto, Kayole Sub-county, and allegedly confessed to killing 42 women, including his wife, between 2022 and July 11, 2024.

According to the DCI, the suspect revealed that he began killing out of rage after his wife’s business failed, which he had invested in.

Collins was detained at the Gigiri police station awaiting trial after the completion of investigations.

However, on August 20, reports emerged of his escape from custody, renewing concerns about police negligence.

Acting IG of Police, Gilbert Masengeli, arrived at the station and announced the suspension of eight officers, including senior officers, citing dereliction of duty. Masengeli also declared the Gigiri police station a crime scene.

These cases have further sullied the reputation of Kenya's police force on the international stage due to how murder suspects have managed to escape from supposedly secure detention facilities.