Police in Embu County have launched a manhunt for four suspects who escaped from the cells at Itabua Police Station, one of the most heavily guarded stations in the region because it sits within the compound of the Eastern Region Police headquarters.

Embu County Police Commander Sarah Koki confirmed the breakout. "It is true there are suspects who escaped from police cell," she said, as quoted by The Standard and K24 Digital.

According to the commander, one of the four is facing a murder charge, two are accused of robbery with violence, and the fourth is accused of stealing. The suspects were being held at the station and had not yet been processed for their court appearances.

How the escape happened

The Standard, the Daily Nation and K24 report that the detainees dug a hole through the wall of their holding cell and slipped out unnoticed under cover of darkness. Their absence was discovered during a routine morning check of the cells, after which officers blew whistles to raise the alarm and searched the station and its surroundings without success.

Accounts of the timing differ. The Standard reported that the escape took place on a Thursday night and was noticed the following morning, while K24 and People Daily said the empty cell was discovered on Sunday, October 25, 2026, when police formally launched the search. One other outlet reported that the men squeezed out through a ventilation opening after its metal grills came loose, rather than through the wall.

What is not in dispute is that the breakout happened at a station that houses detainees in a compound shared with the regional police command, raising questions about supervision of cells and the condition of the building.

Warning to the public

Koki said officers were tracking the four. "We are following the suspects in a bid to re-arrest them," she said, adding that police were determined to bring them back to custody.

She warned that escaping lawful custody is a criminal offence in its own right, meaning the four will face additional charges once caught, and that anyone found hiding or assisting them would be charged alongside them. She urged members of the public to share any information that could lead to their arrest.

Residents and traders in Embu town told The Standard that the men were believed to be behind a series of break-ins and robberies in the town and surrounding areas. One trader described them as "very dangerous criminals" and said their escape could bring back fear among business owners if they are not quickly re-arrested.

Recurring custody lapses

Escapes from police cells are not new in Kenya. Several stations have in recent years recorded breakouts blamed on dilapidated holding cells, overcrowding and lapses by officers on duty, often prompting internal disciplinary inquiries.

Police have not said whether officers who were on duty at Itabua on the night of the escape are under investigation, or whether any of the four has been traced. Anyone with information can report to the nearest police station or call the National Police Service toll-free lines.

Photos: The Standard and K24 Digital (Itabua Police Station, Embu).