Uhuru sacks Commissioner-General of Prisons Ogalo after escape of 3 terror convicts

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday fired the Commissioner-General of the Kenya Prisons, Wycliffe Ogalo.

In a statement, the President appointed Brigadier (Rtd) John Kibaso Warioba as his replacement.

"His Excellency the President has today appointed and witnessed the swearing-in of Brigadier (Rtd) John Kibaso Warioba as the Commissioner-General of the Kenya Prisons Service," the statement said.

"It is also notified that His Excellency the President had earlier today revoked with immediate effect the appointment of Mr Wycliffe Ogalo as the Commissioner-General of Kenya."

Ogalo's sacking comes days after three terror convicts escaped from the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.

Earlier, the President held a crisis meeting at State House with top Interior Ministry officials and prisons bosses, over the recent jailbreak.

Uhuru directed Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and all security formations to take all necessary action and pursue the Kamiti escapees with all available resources.

He called on state investigative agencies to bring every person that is found culpable to full account. 

"The State Department of Correctional Services has similarly been directed to sanction disciplinary action against all Kenya Prisons Service personnel who were on duty when the security breaches occurred; which action shall include redeployment and/or immediate suspension of all affected officers."

Uhuru asked Kenyans to be vigilant and give information that may lead to the arrest of the three escaped convicts.

The escapees are: Musharraf Abdalla Akhulunga alia Zarkarawi, Mohammed Ali Abikar and Joseph Juma Odhiambo alia Yusuf.

Prison authorities said the three who were being held at Block A, which holds some of the most dreaded criminals “escaped” on Sunday night at about 1 am.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has placed Sh60 million bounty on their heads.

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i on Monday said preliminary investigations suggested the escape was abetted by laxity and incompetence.

Seven wardens at the Kamiti Maximum Prison have so far been arrested following the escape.

Edited by D Tarus