669 prison escapees since 2016

By HELEN TARAWA
CORRECTIONAL Services Minister Roy Biyama told Parliament yesterday that 669 prisoners had escaped since 2016 and only 123 were recaptured, leaving 546 still at large.
Biyama was responding to questions by Ijivitari MP Richard Masere on the number of prison breaks in the country contributing to increased law and order issues. He said communities had not cooperated for the recapture of those inmates.
The minister said this year 78 had escaped and three were recaptured while the rest remained at large.
He said despite a weekly police telecast through EMTV, communities had not responded to turn in the inmates.
Biyama said the population of remands in Correctional institutions totalled 3424 and the convicted 2021, bringing the total to 5445 in June.
“There are plans and cost estimates provided by the department for projects that will be implemented when funding is available,” he said.
“There are 20 Correctional institutions in the country.”
Biyama said the Government had allocated K2 million this year for CS and the 20 institutions plus rural lockups.