At least five people have been lynched in Mwea, Kirinyaga county, in the last four days, raising concerns over a worrying trend where members of the public are increasingly taking matters into their own hands.
Two of the suspected cattle rustlers were killed on Wednesday evening at Muthilu village in Makima ward.
According to Makima Location Senior Chief Charles Ngari, the suspects who were on a motorcycle were intercepted by the locals and lynched after they failed to identify themselves.
“The locals questioned the suspects on where they were heading but when they failed to explain themselves. They were lynched and their bodies set ablaze,” Ngari said.
The chief noted that the residents have been on high alert over increasing cases of cattle rustling in the area.
He urged locals not to take the law into their hands saying it was illegal and called on members of the public to surrender the suspects to police once they arrest them.
Ngari said the bodies of the deceased persons were taken to Embu Level 5 Hospital mortuary as police continue with investigations
The second incident happened in the same area on Thursday, where another man was also lynched by a mob in the same manner.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspect, whose face was not familiar in the area, failed to express himself prompting a mob to descend on him, killing him on the spot.
Last night, two other men were cornered and killed by locals at around 3:00 am near Gategi shopping centre.
Those who witnessed the incident said the two men were on a motorcycle and were in possession of a panga.
The two were reportedly stopped by two residents who were heading home and requested to identify themselves.
The two, however, refused and attempted to attack the locals with the panga.
After realising that everything had started going south the two residents raised an alarm, attracting the attention of neighbours who descended on the men killing them on the spot.
Mwea Sub-county Police Commander Emmanuel Kiplagat confirmed the killings saying investigations are ongoing.
“The law will take its course. I urge the locals not to take up law into their hands,” he said adding that those who will be found culpable for the killings will face the law.
The bodies of the two suspects were taken to Mwea Mission Hospital Mortuary pending investigations.
