Electricity back at Kibos prison after payment of Sh650,000

Kenya Power has reconnected electricity supply to Kibos Maximum Security Prison in Kisumu after the correctional department paid up bills countrywide.

Electricity had been disconnected at the institution, sparking fears of a security risk at the  facility including unrest or an outbreak.

Kenya Power Western Kenya regional manager Dan Obiero said the disconnection had resulted from an unpaid bill of Sh650,000.

We have made the reconnection today after receiving a cheque from the department and normalcy has resumed,” Mr Obiero said.

The  official in charge of the prison, Wilson Okomba, confirmed that power had been connected to staff quarters.

“I want to state that despite the disconnection, the prison remained secure because the disruption only affected staff quarters.

It’s only the officers who felt the pinch,” Mr Okomba said at the prison.

The said that staff missed power for a week before it was reconnected.

“It was unfortunate that officers lacked power when prisoners enjoyed the commodity,” said one warder who preferred anonymity.

Four capital offenders escaped from the prison in August last year after using a hacksaw to cut the grills in their cell.

The suspects were identified as Douglas Onyancha and Idd Salim Sifuna, who were serving life sentences for robbery with violence.

Another inmate, Kennedy Wesonga, had been jailed for life for defilement while Kenneth Lekesho was serving 20 years’ imprisonment, also for defilement.

Of the four two were re-arrested while one was shot dead and another one, a foreigner, was still at large. “We suspect that he crossed the border back to Uganda,” Mr Okomba said.