Cops on escape case granted bail as Masten Wanjala killed

The three police officers accused of aiding confessed serial killer Masten Wanjala to escape from custody have been released on bail.

The three Phillip Mbithi, Boniface Kamakia and Precious Mwinzi were arrested after Wanjala escaped from custody when they were on duty.

Wanjala was on Friday lynched by a mob in his home Bungoma county.

On Friday, senior resident magistrate Jane Kamau ruled that it would be a violation of the officers' rights if the court detained them.

Kamau said the police investigators ought to act with speed to reinstate the confidence of the public of their role in protecting citizens.

“Therefore this investigations ought to take less than the 14 days requested,” the court said.

Kamau further ordered that the investigations in the matter be conducted in the next seven days and the file be closed by the eighth day.

“In the meantime each of the suspects shall be released on a Sh100,000 cash bail and a contact person,” she ruled.

They shall report to the investigating officer every day at 9am for the next seven days to assist with investigations.

The DPP had asked the court to detain the three officers for 14 days to allow the police conclude investigations.