A suspected burglar was on Saturday morning beaten to death by angry students and villagers at a hostel near Kisii University, Main Campus.
The man was suspected to have stolen a number of household items belonging to two Kisii University students at Abbass Hostels in Riverside village.
According to Wilant Otieno, a victim of the dawn incident, the suspect had stormed into his room without his knowledge and threatened to kill him if at all he screamed.
"I heard sounds of some footsteps around 4am but thought it was my room mate. I woke up only to find an unknown assailant standing by the door, threatening me to keep silent," he said.
Otieno and his room mate said they lost three mobile phones and other items, which the suspect declined to admit being in possession of.
Another victim, Steve Omondi, also said he lost his personal computer and a flat screen television.
He said his phone had gone missing but he luckily recovered it from the suspect.
The suspect was subjected to severe interrogation by the residents, but he refused to confess, leading to merciless beatings until he succumbed.
"He claimed that he was studying Civil Engineering at Kisii University, but we don't have such a course here," said a witness.
Kisii County Police Commander Simon Kiragu confirmed the incident but urged locals to desist from taking the law into their hands.
His body was taken to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary by the police.