Police are investigating an incident where two suspected coffee thieves were lynched in Mitaboni, Machakos County.
The two were reportedly lynched by a mob after a botched robbery at the Kithima Coffee factory in Mitaboni on Sunday.
An eye witness said the gang of thieves numbering thirteen had gained access to the factory after tying up two security guards at the gate.
A third guard escaped and ran away screaming to alert residents who surrounded the factory and apprehended the two as the rest of the gang escaped.
The two were beaten to death and their bodies were left at the gate of the factory where hundreds of curious residents thronged on Monday morning to view the bodies.
According to one of the security guards Nicholus Kituku, the gang which was armed with pangas, sticks and other crude weapons raided the factory at midnight, tied the guards with ropes and beat them up to submission as they proceeded to collect the bags of coffee.
Kituku said the gang was not aware of the presence of the third guard as the captured guards had lied to them that there was no one else keeping watch.
Kituku said for about seven years incidences of coffee theft have not occurred in the area.
Factory Manager Jonathan Musyoka said investigations into the incident had been launched.
By Monday 9 am police were yet to collect the bodies of the lynched suspects.
