At least 150 inmates have escaped from the 101 Kenyan prisons since 2000, it has emerged.
The latest incident was last week where 19 remandees escaped from a prison truck in Nairobi en-route to Industrial Area Prison.
About 30 jailbreaks, including in Kamiti Maximum Prison, have since been recorded. Though some convicts have been rearrested, some continue enjoying their freedom.
Further observation indicates that poor living conditions and overcrowding within the prisons are the main reasons behind the escapes.
This was confirmed by two jailbirds who made an escape from the Malindi GK Prison last year.
The duo reportedly texted a journalist blaming the deplorable state inside the correctional facility as what pushed them into seeking a way out, which they got, though illegally.
Most of the escapes were realized by either cutting off metal ventilation rods or digging into the walls.
Most of the escapees have been hardcore prisoners in for major crimes, which Richard Tuta, an independent security analyst, says calls for changes.
“This points to a dire need for modern correctional facilities,” he said, with the consideration that most of the prisons were constructed during the colonial era.