A daring escape attempt by two remandees in Embu County ended in a fatal shooting on Tuesday afternoon, when police officers opened fire on fleeing suspects after a dramatic ambush involving pepper spray and a roadside chase.
The incident occurred in the Gatondo area of Embu West Sub-county as the inmates were being transported from Siakago Law Courts in a prison van. According to Embu West OCPD Vincent Kitili, the suspects sprayed pepper at the escorting officers, temporarily blinding them and triggering chaos inside the vehicle.
“This was a well-planned escape,” Kitili told reporters. “They had pepper spray and knew exactly when to strike.”
As the vehicle slowed to navigate speed bumps, the suspects leapt from the moving van and dashed into a maize plantation. One of the escapees, identified as Swaleh Oswado—a former ODM aspirant for the Kirimari Ward MCA seat—was pursued by police into an unfinished house, where he allegedly armed himself with a machete (panga) and challenged officers to approach.
“The suspect ran toward a perimeter wall and ignored repeated calls to surrender. When he posed a direct threat to our officers, they were forced to shoot,” Kitili said.
Oswado was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body taken to Embu Level Five Hospital mortuary. He had been facing multiple criminal charges and was classified by police as high-risk.
The second remandee managed to escape into nearby thickets. A large-scale manhunt is underway, with reinforcements deployed and the public urged to report suspicious sightings.
“We’re determined to capture the remaining suspect. The public’s safety remains our top priority,” said Kitili.
The incident raises concerns over prison transport security and the evolving tactics of high-risk detainees.
