Two men alleged to have stolen a motorcycle have died after they were attacked by a mob in the Posta area within Jamhuri, Nairobi.
The incident was reported on Friday after police received information that the public was assaulting two suspected thieves.
According to police, officers rushed
to the scene and established that the two men had been subjected to mob justice
over allegations that they had stolen a motorcycle.
Before police could intervene, the two injured men were reportedly rescued by individuals believed to be their associates, who rushed them to the hospital for treatment.
However, both later succumbed to their injuries.
The deaths sparked tension at the hospital after a large group of boda boda riders gathered and demanded to know why the injured suspects had allegedly not been attended to immediately.
Police responded promptly and managed the situation, preventing further unrest.
On Saturday, another group stormed the hospital mortuary demanding the release of the body of their colleagues.
This prompted a clash between police
and the group that left two people with gunshot wounds.
Police said that at around noon on Saturday, about 300 boda boda riders, many carrying pillion passengers and allegedly armed with crude weapons, knives and pangas, returned to the hospital demanding the release of the bodies of their deceased colleagues.
After being denied access, the group reportedly became violent, causing chaos and blocking Ngong Road before being dispersed by police.
Authorities said the riders later regrouped near a hotel in the Jamhuri area, where they allegedly began looting and terrorising the public.
Reinforcement teams, including the Quick Response Unit (QRU), were deployed to support officers from Kilimani Subcounty.
Police eventually dispersed the group
towards Kibra informal settlement using tear gas. During the operation, two
officers fired warning shots into the air to help restore order.
Police later confirmed that a 42-year-old woman sustained a gunshot wound to the right leg, while a 22-year-old man was struck by a rubber bullet on the left upper arm.
Both were taken to Nairobi Women’s Hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities also arrested two suspects and detained 10 motorcycles believed to be connected to the disturbances.
A motorcycle, believed to be connected to the incident, was recovered at the scene and towed to Jamhuri Police Station, where it has been secured as an exhibit.
Police have launched investigations into the incident as they work to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft and the subsequent mob attack.
