An unidentified man was on Thursday lynched by a mob at Kerina shopping centre in Bonchari after his attempt to break into a shop flopped.
The mob arrested and lynched him after a motorcycle he used failed to start, residents in the trading centre told Hivisasa.com.
"It was around 4am and we were on our way to the market," one of the residents said.
"We suspected something was wrong because the shop is never opened that early. When he realised we had know his intention, he jumped out and ran to his motorbike which unfortunately failed to start."
According to the resident, they raised an alarm which attracted neighbours who caught up and lynched him."
Confirming the incident, area Assistant Chief Benson Mwalimu said the body of the suspect was taken to Nyangena Hospital Mortuary.
Mr Mwalimu appealed to members of the public not to take the law into their hands.
He said suspects should be handed over to the police.