40 patients escaped from Kenya's only public psychiatric facility. Police in Nairobi, Kenya are looking for 30 mentally ill patients who still have not been returned to the hospital ward. The patients overpowered guards and forced open the locked door of their ward on Sunday morning.

Police chief Samuel Anampiu told press, "Many scaled over the wall and went through Mathare area and a few confident ones used the main gate. When they are traced they should be brought back for their medication."

Anampiu told press that that the breakout must have been carefully planned for it to be as well executed as it was.  "They must have strategized. It is not possible that without proper planning 75 people can break two doors and more than half of them run away," he said.

A group of 40 patients in all escaped. Two patients went back voluntarily and the other eight were returned by their families. The patients are not dangerous but should return so that they can continue their treatment. One of the patients started the escape and incited the others after attendants at the facility delayed giving the patients their medication. 

The 40 patients who broke out were all men. At least 35 others were successfully prevented from leaving by guards at the facility.  They were patients at the only public psychiatric facility in Kenya, in the Mathare slum neighborhood of Nairobi. Psychiatric treatment in Kenya is very limited due to stigma and a lack of funds.

One escapee, Kevin Kemboi, was returned to the psychiatric facility by family members. He said that after another patient told him that the hospital nurses were on strike, he followed the crowd running away.

"I just followed one of the patients ... then made my way home. At home I realized the environment was different. I felt like I was being disturbed by snakes and decided to go back. It is the place I need to be," he said, and broke into tears.

Police have details of all escapees to aid in identifying the men.  Thirty patients are still not back.