A routine food delivery at Ruai Police Station reportedly took an unexpected turn after officers discovered metal tools allegedly hidden inside a meal being delivered to three suspects in custody.
Christine Njoki Gitau, 18, was arrested after police allegedly found a pair of pliers and a shear concealed inside a plate containing rice and meat.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Gitau had arrived at the police station carrying food and requested permission to see three friends who were being held at the facility.
The three suspects were identified as Emmanuel Bosire, Ismael Arisa and Brian Gatheru. Police said the trio was in custody over allegations of robbery with violence and gang rape.
Investigators allege that the suspects were linked to an anonymous TikTok account that was reportedly used to establish contact with young women. According to the allegations, the women were lured into meetings before being attacked, sexually assaulted and robbed.
However, the alleged plan to get the suspects out of custody reportedly came to an abrupt end when officers subjected the food Gitau had brought to a routine inspection.
Hidden inside the meal, detectives allegedly discovered two metal tools that could potentially be used to interfere with the police cells or facilitate an escape.
The discovery immediately changed the situation.
Gitau was taken into custody as detectives launched investigations into how the tools allegedly found their way into the food and ultimately into the police station.
Investigators are also expected to establish whether Gitau allegedly acted on her own or whether she was working with other individuals in an attempt to facilitate the suspects’ escape.
The incident has highlighted the security challenges faced by police stations when people attempt to deliver food and other personal items to suspects in custody.
Items brought to detainees are routinely subjected to checks because prohibited objects could potentially be used to facilitate an escape, cause injuries or compromise the safety of officers and other people inside the station.
The DCI has warned members of the public against attempts to interfere with lawful custody, stressing that facilitating or attempting to facilitate an escape can amount to a criminal offence.
Members of the public have also been urged to report suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities.
Meanwhile, investigations into the alleged incident are continuing, with detectives expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the tools and determine whether other individuals may have been involved.
