Five suspects facing robbery-related allegations have escaped from police custody at Limuru Police Station in Kiambu County after overpowering officers who had opened their cell to move detainees to another room.
The escape occurred at around 11pm on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, when officers on night duty opened the male cells to transfer ten suspects who were being held at the station.
According to a police report recorded at Limuru Police Station under OB Number 60/04/11/2026 at 11.40pm, the officers were attacked as soon as they opened the metal grill door.
The suspects reportedly overpowered the officers before rushing out of the cells and fleeing from the station.
The officers involved were identified as Police Constable Kenneth Cheruiyot, service number 107655, who was on night shift report office duty, and Police Constable number 128896, who was serving as the cell sentry.
They raised an alarm during the incident, prompting another officer, Police Constable Amos Ngene, service number 78732, who was on crime standby duty, to respond.
However, Ngene was also reportedly attacked by the fleeing suspects as they made their escape.
Police identified the five escapees as Moses Waswa, Simon Eshiwani, Daniel Ndichu Njoroge, Dedan Kariuki and Edward Muriithi Kariuki.
The five were among suspects who had been remanded at the station by the Chief Magistrate's Court in Limuru through a miscellaneous application.
It was not immediately established whether any of the suspects had been recaptured by the time the incident was reported. The police report also did not indicate whether any of the officers sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Following the escape, a search operation was launched to trace the suspects and return them to custody.
The operation was being coordinated by the Limuru Sub-County Police Commander, identified in the report as Mary Njoki, alongside the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO).
The officers were mobilising a team to track down the escapees, with further details expected as investigations and the search operation continued.
The circumstances surrounding the escape are expected to form part of the subsequent police report. Authorities are yet to provide further information on the measures being taken to establish how the suspects managed to overpower the officers and leave the cells.
The escape raises concerns over security at the police facility as officers continue efforts to locate the five suspects and prevent them from evading the legal process.
