Angry residents descended on a middle-aged man with kicks and blows after he stole a mobile phone from one of the mourners at a funeral.
The incident occurred on Monday at Nyamiomo village in South Mugirango, Kisii County.
Witnesses said the suspect, Nicholas Mogendi, stole a mobile phone from Elizabeth Bonareri who had attended a funeral in the village.
“Bonareri was among the mourners who were paying their last respect to the decased. Before the funeral was over, her phone went missing and she said Mogendi was the person who was seated next to her and he should thus produce the phone,” said Justine Ogora, a witness.
Mr Ogora said Mogendi was asked to produce the phone but refused on grounds that he is not a thief.
Area assistant chief Jacob Mokandu who confirmed the incident said the phone was recovered after Mogendi was asked to empty his pockets.
“It was a shameful incident that Mogendi stole a phone at a funeral. He received a thorough beating after the phone was found in his coat’s pocket,” said Mokandu.
The chief said he rescued the suspect from the jaws of death since the mourners had threatened to lynch him.
He warned residents against stealing saying whoever who will be found engaging in theft will carry his or her own cross.
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