KDF takes over Prisons leadership
His Excellency the President Uhuru Kenyatta has sacked embattled Commissioner General of Prisons Wycliffe Ogallo and appointed Brigadier (Rtd) John Kibaso Warioba to takeover with immediate effect.
The announcement comes days after three convicted terror suspects escaped from Kamiti Maximum Prison in Nairobi in what security agencies believe to have been a case of abetted prison break.
Earlier today, President Kenyatta appointed and witnessed the swearing in of Brigadier Warioba.
The appointment follows the briefing to the Head of State from the Ministry responsible for Correctional Services regarding the security breaches at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison that led to the escape of three inmates.
“The briefing noted the compelling public interest in the matter and the need to entrench accountability in the ranks of the leadership of all security organs; in honour of the many Kenyans who have lost their lives and the enormous sacrifices made by all Kenyans and particularly the security organs to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat terror networks,” read part of the statement.
The President has directed the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government and all security formations to take all action necessary and pursue the Kamiti escapees with all the available resources.
The Head of State also urged all state investigative agencies to bring every person that is found culpable to full account.
In keeping with our ethos of good governance, in the intervening period and pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigations, 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,”
The Head of State and Government has urged all Kenyans to volunteer any information that will lead to the tracing and arrest of the three escapees.
“He also thanked all our security personnel for their tireless and heroic work in law enforcement and counterterrorism,” read the statement.
Further, the President has urged all Kenyans to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies.
The escapees are: Musharraf Abdalla Akhulunga alia Zarkarawi, Mohammed Ali Abikar and Joseph Juma Odhiambo alia Yusuf.
Already, seven wardens are in police custody, with Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi blaming laxity and incompetence.
Interior CS Fred Matiang’i who led a senior security team to Kamiti prison announced a massive manhunt involving specialized teams has been launched across the country for the three terror suspects.
The DCI has placed a Sh60 million bounty on their recapture.
