Kisumu officer arrested for helping child exploitation suspect escape

A police officer stationed at Obwolo Police Post in Kisumu East Sub-county has been detained following accusations of helping a suspect, who was facing charges of child exploitation, escape from lawful custody.

The incident, reported to Gita Police Station, came to light when Corporal Susan Kwach attended a court session at Winam Law Courts on April 22, only to realize that the suspect, Jacobo Onyango Nyaminya, 19, was missing.

Police reports indicate that Nyaminya, who had earlier pleaded guilty to charges under Section 15(f) of the Sexual Offences Act for benefiting from child prostitution, was due to appear in court for a hearing.

According to Citizen Digital, the suspect had been held at Kodiaga Prison but was given the option to post a bond of Sh600,000 or pay a cash bail of  Sh100,000.

Further investigations revealed that Police Constable Moses Cheserek, who was assigned to transfer Nyaminya from the court cells to Obwolo Police Post, allegedly released him under unclear circumstances.

The suspect has reportedly gone missing, and efforts to locate and re-arrest him have so far been unsuccessful.

"PC Cheserek has been apprehended and will face charges under Section 124(a) of the Penal Code for assisting a prisoner in escaping from lawful custody," stated the police.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kisumu East is overseeing the investigation.

Authorities are now urging the public to provide any information that could help in the rearrest of Nyaminya.