Angry residents of Bendera village in Kapenguria, West Pokot, set several
houses on fire after the decomposed body of a missing seven-year-old boy was
found in a maize plantation.
The boy had been missing since June 9.
His body was discovered on June 30 by children playing near the area.
A missing person report had been filed at a local police station on June 11.
Police suspect the child was murdered, though
the motive remains unclear. The body was moved to a mortuary pending autopsy
and further investigations.
Following the discovery, residents targeted a
man suspected of being behind the killing. They burned down two houses linked
to him.
Police said the suspect and his family had already fled by the time the mob
arrived.
The angry crowd also went to Silaangwa area and
set fire to another house where the suspect was believed to have worked. T
hey destroyed maize crops on the property before local authorities
intervened to stop further damage.
Police believe the suspect may have escaped to
neighbouring Uganda. Investigations are ongoing.
In separate incidents, two people were killed
in mob justice cases reported in Emuhaya, Vihiga County, and Subuiga, Meru
County.
Their bodies were taken to nearby mortuaries for postmortem examinations.
Police
have condemned the rising cases of mob lynching and urged the public to hand
over suspects to the authorities.
Officials say at least three such
cases are reported daily, and many victims turn out to be innocent or falsely
accused.
