Security screening is set to be dramatically scaled up in the wake of evolving security situation in the region, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i announced on Thursday.
Security checks before visiting inmates in prisons will be escalated. Other areas include airports, SGR and ports of entry into the country.
Matiang’i told reporters at Kamiti Maximum Prison that the inconvenient security measures are partly a response to the escape of the three terror convicts from the highly guarded correctional facility.
He spoke after close to four hours meeting that brought together ICT CS Joe Mucheru, Inspector of General Police Hillary Mutyambai, Directorate Criminal Investigations Goerge Kinoti.
Others in meeting included Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, Correctional Services PS Zainab Hassan and Commissioner General of the Kenya Prisons Service boss John Warioba.
Matiang'i said the state had done a complete overhaul of the ICT infrastructure at the prison given that the CCTV infrastructure of the institution had lapses that let the convicts exploit.
Musharraf Abdalla Akhulunga alias Zarkarawi, Mohammed Ali Abikar and Joseph Juma Odhiambo alias Yusuf were captured on Thursday at the border of Kitui and Tana River while headed to Boni Forest, then to Somalia.
The minister said the escape of the three has instilled much anxiety and fear among Kenyans and players in the security sector.
“I want to tell Kenyans that you are going to be inconvenienced but please bear with us. It is in effort to ensure your safety,” he said.
Further, Matiang’i said that as part of holding to account the officials who had demonstrated laxity and incompetence leading to the escape, nine officers had already been taken to custody and some arraigned in court.
Those arraigned at Kahawa law courts on Thursday included commandant of the institution Gerald Mutembei, his deputy and six other warders who were in charge of the CCTV last Monday when the jail break happened.
The court had initially rejected a challenge to its jurisdiction to hear the charges against the six.
Prosecution wanted them detained for 30 days to allow investigations to be concluded.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
