Four people were killed in two separate incidents involving the robbery of a motorcycle in the Lugari area, Kakamega County.
Three of the victims were lynched on Wednesday by a mob after being
accused of being robbers.
The three were linked to an earlier incident where a bodaboda rider was
killed in a robbery incident in Makutano Market area, leading to their fatal
attack, police said.
According to the police, the drama started on August 3 when the bodaboda
rider identified as Aluda Misoga was found murdered after he had carried three
pillion passengers who were headed for Bungoma Town.
Witnesses and police said the three had posed as passengers before they
attacked Misoga and killed him. They escaped with his motorcycle, police said.
On Wednesday, August 6, the three were spotted in the Turbo area, Uasin
Gishu County, riding the said stolen motorcycle.
An alarm was raised, prompting the rider to speed off towards the Makutano
area, where a trap had been laid by the public who had been tipped off.
The mob stoned them to death before setting their bodies on fire.
Police were called to the scene and moved the bodies to the mortuary
pending autopsy and other procedures.
Lugari Sub County police commander Solomon Esakina said the
three were ambushed by angry locals at Makutano market while on three different
motorbikes and burnt beyond recognition.
"My only urge to our people is to stop taking the law into
their own hands when someone is suspected of committing a crime, let the locals
report the matter to the police and allow mandated bodies to take up the matter
as stipulated by the law. Killing people without subjecting them to a legal
process is not a solution," said Esakina.
Police discourage mob lynching and want suspects to be surrendered to
authorities for processing.
Two other people were separately lynched by mobs, police said.
Police said the incidents happened in Suna, Migori County and Kerugoya in Kirinyaga County.
