Police in Kitale are in pursuit of a murder and armed robbery suspect who escaped from the Kitale Law courts while appearing for the mention of his case.
Ruben Garakacha was facing two murder charges and armed robbery charges.
He misled a prison guard by claiming that he needed to use the washrooms.
Seizing the opportunity, he fled from the courtroom, disappearing into the Kitale conservancy forest.
A witness who was tilling land nearby said he saw the suspect run into the forest with prison officers in hot pursuit minutes later.
“I saw him sprinting towards the forest, and a few minutes later prison officers followed in pursuit,” he said.
Security has been heightened at the Kitale law courts to prevent such an incident from recurring.
Garakacha was apprehended last month by police after he was found in possession of a mobile phone belonging to a bodaboda rider who had been killed and his motorcycle stolen.
During the investigation, police also discovered a woman buried at the suspect’s residence.
Police have confirmed that Garakacha faces a series of armed robbery as well as two murder charges.