By Kennedy Nalyanya
Nairobi, Kenya – A convicted violent robber stunned law enforcement on Wednesday after escaping from the Kibera Law Courts in broad daylight — while still in handcuffs.
The fugitive, identified as Alex Kibisu, had been transported from Kamiti Maximum Prison for a court appearance related to a 2023 armed robbery in Lang’ata, during which he allegedly shot and injured a victim. He was already serving a 20-year sentence for robbery with violence.
The escape occurred around midday and has exposed serious lapses in security. According to sources, Kibisu fled from the holding cells by leaping over the rear perimeter wall — a section of the court compound typically guarded and monitored.
Eyewitnesses and local residents claim the rear wall opens into the labyrinthine passages of the Kibera slums, offering easy cover and multiple escape routes. Police units have since pitched camp in the area, attempting to retrace his escape and track him down.
Kibisu’s escape has triggered sharp scrutiny over court and prison procedures. How did a shackled inmate under armed escort bypass multiple security checkpoints and vanish without a trace? Officials remain tight-lipped, and the Prisons Administration has yet to issue a formal statement.
Investigations are now focused on the Kamiti prison officers who escorted him. As of publication time, Kibisu remains at large.
Court records show Kibisu was originally sentenced to death for robbery with violence. Upon appeal, the sentence was reduced to 20 years per count, to run concurrently from December 11, 2023. He was appearing in Court 3 for a fresh robbery with violence charge when he made his escape.
This breach has raised broader questions about accountability, training, and oversight in the criminal justice system. With public concern mounting, authorities are under pressure to explain how such a high-risk inmate managed to evade tight security in one of Nairobi’s busiest courts.
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