As investigations into how the three terror convicts made their daring escape from Kamiti Maximum Security Prison intensify, detectives have gathered crucial details.
The three, Musharraf Abdalla Akhulunga also known as Zarkarawi, Mohammed Ali Abikar and Joseph Juma Odhiambo also known as Yusuf, who have since been arrested attempted to establish contact with their counterparts in the underworld.
According to Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), immediately after their arrival in Machakos, the convicts had refreshed, taken breakfast and bought caps to conceal their faces, in readiness for the rest of their journey.
“They had also bought two mobile phones and were attempting to register SIM cards, when the actions of a selfless, patriotic shop attendant jeopardized their plans and saved the country immeasurably,” read DCI report.
The detectives have traced their movements and talked to the attendant who said the convicts who did not have Identity Cards and had prevailed upon the attendant to sell and register the SIM cards, but he refused.
They pleaded with the attendant to facilitate them at a fee but the attendant was adamant that unless they produced their national identification documents, then no help would come their way.
However, the two mobile phones recovered in a thicket in Mutanda area, Nuu, Kitui County indicate the three had managed to register their lines.
Police said they are trying to establish where and how.
The two damaged phones had been abandoned in the thicket alongside a piece of paper with numbers written ‘self’ and ‘wife’ which indicates the terrorists were handed the gadgets as they left jail and were in contact with some people.
Detectives who have secured two phones used by the three during the escape are still searching for two vehicles, one believed to have ferried them to Machakos and the other one believed to be on standby to whisk them into Somalia.
Detectives are also questioning some of the inmates on what they know and if they heard any movements in the cells.
Meanwhile, six prison officials among them the In-Charge Kamiti Maximum Prison, Gerald Mutembei and his deputy Joseph Longorianyang, will remain in custody for the next 10 days.
The six who appeared before Principal Magistrate Boaz Ombare were denied bond as the court said that there was the likelihood of interference of witnesses at this stage of investigations.