NEW DETAILS ABOUT KAMITI MAXIMUM PRISON ESCAPE

For  12 months, inside cell Number 6 in Block A, four inmates and two wardens hatched an escape plan.

The rules were simple: The prison break should not look like an aided escape. Whatever happens, no names would ever be mentioned.

However, when the escapees were caught, they  caught, they spilt every detail.

After months of negotiations, the prisoners got to work. First, they dug a hole through their cell wall. Then they built a makeshift ‘ladder’ contraption of ropes, twisted sheets, twisted clothes, even broomsticks and three hooks  they would use to climb over the wall.

They threw the hooks on top, then climbed up and let themselves down.

The prison break started with a smile, a couple of jokes and a bundle of money, the source and sum yet to be known.

Musharraf Abdalla Akhulunga, alias Zarkarawi; Mohammed Ali Abikar and Joseph Juma Odhiambo, alias Yusuf, on Monday confessed to Kahawa chief magistrate Diana Mochache how they made their way out of Kamiti Maximum Security Prison on or about November 15.

All were charged with terrorism-related offences. It was thought to be the most secure prison in Kenya.

Their fourth cellmate was  a person living with disability and could not make it out.

After pleading guilty to charges of escaping from lawful custody, Akhulunga helped the prosecution demonstrate how they built a makeshift ladder and climbed over and down the walls out of Kamiti.

“He (the prosecutor) got it right, but left out some details, the same way they failed to bring some of the tools we used,” he said.

A warden gave us two reams of paper, the colour of the wall, and a bar of sticky soap that we used to fill the hole and cover it so it would not be visible

Convict Akhulunga

“I can’t see the pair of scissors we used to cut the blanket into strips that we eventually used as a rope. One more blade and a hook are also missing,” he told the court.

Speaking to the media during court breaks, Akhulunga said the team waited till the rest of the inmates were asleep before the digging began.

“We used plain photocopying papers to cover the hole on the wall. Since they are of the same colour as the cell walls, it would not be possible to see them,” he said.

“A warden gave us two reams of the paper and a bar of sticky soap that we used to to fill and cover the hole so it would not be visible.” The soap acted like glue. 

They used a chisel given by one of the two wardens who had it in his pocket. Those two wardens were not among those who were charged in court.

In confidence, he gave the magistrate their names, even explaining that his life would be in danger if taken back to Kamiti where the two were stationed.

During the day, when they had time for themselves, they would be making the ladder contraption. Using a pair of scissors and a razor blade, the four cut their blankets into long strips.

“We took three broomsticks which we tightly tied together to make it long enough to get to the top of the 10-metre wall,” he said.

I don’t want to leave prison because the ATPU will kidnap and kill me

Terror convict Akhulunga

We then attached three hooks at the end of the ladder. We also made a long rope out of blanket which we threw to the outer side of the wall. That would be used to slide down to the outside world.

They made strong knots in the rope that they would use to climb without slipping back.

Across the second perimeter wall, they chiseled out a stone and simply walked out.

“I commend the accused for being brave. The first accused (Akhulungu ) more specifically made the prosecution case more understandable by explaining how they escaped,” Mochache said.

“He has information that could help incriminate those who escaped.” 

The three escapees had been arraigned  before magistrate Mochache around noon.

Akhulungu, dressed in a striped T-shirt  and coat, savoured his day out of custody where he was chained and blindfolded.

Inside the T0shirt pocket as a toothbrush, which he stared at admiringly from time to time. 

Court was much better than prison and he had sworn to enjoy his time before incarceration.

He raised his hand just as the magistrate walked in and when asked to speak, he said he was hungry and would appreciate some food before pleading to the charges.

Not that he had not been eating while custody, but he suffers regular hunger pangs and simply couldn’t help from feeling hungry.

“Give the prisoners milk and bread to eat before we start our proceeding,” the magistrate ordered.

When the court took a break, he asked the magistrate for a soda and some biscuits, saying he’s used to eating all the time.

“I don’t want to leave prison because the ATPU will kidnap and kill me,” he said.

I’ll never see this again. Inside prison, it is chains on my legs and a cover over my eyes

Terror convict Akulunga

He also maintained his earlier confession that they were aided by wardens to get out of prison but refused to say how much they paid.

“To be honest, I do not know how much was given, even if I knew, I would not tell you,” he said.

He also said that he wants to eat all he can before he’s taken back to prison where he’s chained.

“I’ll never see this again. Inside prison, it is chains on my legs and a cover over my eyes,” he said, squeezing a packet of milk

The three were charged with one count of committing a terrorist act. The prosecution said that by escaping from prison, they posed a threat to national security. They all denied the charge.

On the second count, they were charged with escaping lawful custody. They all pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 15 months in prison after finishing their current sentences.

There was yet a fourth accused who provoked speculation about his role in the escape of the three terror convicts.

Abdulmajid Yassin was charged with the aiding the escape of prisoners from Kamiti on the night of November 14. He denied the charges and blamed the officers for arraigning him without a proper explanation.

An officer who sat besides the Star reporter could not, however, hide his disappointment when the court sent him back to Kamiti awaiting the trial.

“I can’t believe we have to deal with Majjid one more day. He is such a piece of work,” he exclaimed loudly.

Akhulunga comes from Ekero, in Kakamega county. He proudly admitted being amember of al Shabaab. He planned to return to the group had the escape plan succeeded.

He is the father of four children— triplets aged eight years old and a six-year-old son. The children, he told the media, live in their territory (Somalia) and that they were his cheerleaders.

He had heard that his mother was on television talking about him and was anxious to hear what she had to say. 

“I love her very much, but she has other children who can console her if she is in pain. I’m not her only child,” he said.

He also spoke about his brother who was dishonourably discharged from the army for stealing during the Westgate terror attack.

The 35-year-old also said if he got a chance; he’d escape from prison again since it only adds two-years to his 22-year sentence. 

“I have served almost nine years now and to be honest, I do not look forward to my release,” he said.

In 2017, Akhulunga was convicted of planning to carry out a terrorist attack and was sentenced to serve 22 years.

He was found in possession of firearms and other explosives and wanted to attack Parliament.

Akhulunga pleaded for a lenient sentence saying he has a bullet in his body, which he got in 2009 fighting for al Shabaab. They were repelling Amisom  troops.

He also said he had hepatitis B and suffers regular hunger pangs and would not be properly taken care of in prison.

He expressed fear of being incarcerated at Kamiti or Naivasha prison where he has a history of attempting to escape.

Abikar was convicted in July 2019 for conspiracy to commit a terrorist act as well as committing other terrorist offences.

He was among the terrorists who attacked Garissa University college in 2015 when 148 were killed. He was sentenced to serve to serve 41 years.

He claimed to have escaped for fear of being killed by the ATPU after completion of his sentence.

“My research shows that convicts who leave jail go to ATPU where they are disappeared and are never found or they are found dead. I don’t want to go there,” he told the court.

Odhiambo was arrested in Mandera traveling to terrorist-designated Somalia. On September 4, 2020, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

He pleaded for mercy stating that he has a young family; the first child being only four years old and the younger one, two years.

The case will be mentioned on November 20.

By The Star