Three suspected thieves were on Saturday burned to death by residents of Ndunyu Njeru town, Kinangop.
The three, whose real names are yet to be established, are said to be among a group of thugs who attack residents especially in the evening.
Those affected say the deceased used to break into their homes steal electronics, clothes, including inner garments.
One of them
Mary Nanjala, told the Star they once broke into her house at 3am.
"One of them entered our bedroom, introduced himself as a police officer and ordered my husband to dress up and follow him. But before my husband could dress he grabbed the TV and ran away." Nanjala said.
She said her husband followed the man outside and started beating him when he got hold of him.
Her neighbours heard her distress call, and forced the thief, only identified as Faite, to take them to his house where the TV and other items were found.
Nanjala’s house was the fourth to be raided by the robbers.
Residents launched a manhunt for the other thieves. They then tied them together and burned them using old tyres.
A woman who requested anonymity was shocked to learn that one of the criminals was her neighbour.
She said they did not know he was a thief though his lifestyle was suspect.
The residents said they will take action into their own hands on on grounds that the police are incapable of protecting them.
Nyandarua South OCPD, Muhammad Huka denied the claim. He said the three criminals were released from jail last week.
He added that there are enough officers to protect them.
"How then can they say we are not working?" He posed.
The death of the three thieves brings to five the number of alleged criminals who have been lynched in Nyandarua in one week.