Plea for drinking water turns into jailbreak as 3 suspects escape Oyugis cells

By  George Odiwuor

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

What began as a simple request for drinking water ended in a daring jailbreak at Oyugis Police Station in Homa Bay County.

According to a police statement, at around 8 pm on Sunday night, commotion erupted from the male cells as 16 detainees began shouting, demanding water after finishing their supper.

Responding to their pleas, Police Constable Robert Aminga picked up a bucket of water and stepped into the cell area to serve them.

After the detainees had quenched their thirst, Constable Aminga said he instructed them to leave the basking bay and return to their cubicles for the night. The inmates complied, walking ahead of the officer. However, three of them allegedly deliberately lagged behind, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

In a sudden and calculated ambush, one of the suspects reportedly hit Mr Aminga on the head with the heavy water bucket. The other two immediately joined in, launching a vicious assault on the officer.

The attack was so severe that several detainees, apparently alarmed by the officer’s predicament, intervened and fought off the assailants in an attempt to rescue him.

Amid the ensuing chaos, the three suspects reportedly seized their opportunity.

They dashed through the open cell door, slammed it shut and locked it from the outside, trapping Constable Aminga and the remaining 13 detainees inside.

The trio then vanished into the darkness.

Police have identified the escapees as Erick Onyango, who was facing defilement charges, Collins Otieno and James Otieno, who had been arrested on suspicion of robbery with violence and rape.

All three were being held under court-approved miscellaneous applications that had granted detectives additional time to complete their investigations.

Constable Aminga sustained serious injuries to his chest, left knee and left shoulder. He was eventually freed by fellow officers and rushed to Rachuonyo Sub-County Hospital, where he is receiving medical treatment.

Rachuonyo South Sub-County Police Commander Philemon Saera confirmed that a major manhunt had been launched to track down the three escapees.

He said investigators had already obtained crucial leads that could help bring the suspects back into custody.

“We have got crucial leads which are going to enable us to arrest them again,” Mr Saera said.

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