Residents in Garissa County have been warned against taking the law into their own hands when dealing with robbery suspects.
Garissa OCPD Aron Moriasi issued the warning after some members of the public stoned to death a man who tried to steal a handbag from a woman at the Gullet area in Garissa town.
Moriasi, who condemned the incident said it is illegal for members of the public to take the law into their hands, adding that they should have handed over the suspect to the authorities.
“Members of the public resorted to mob justice. They should have handed over the suspect to the police and allow the due process to take its course. The law does not allow this,” said the police boss.
According to an eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the suspect drew a knife when the woman raised the alarm after he had snatched her handbag.
The witness said members of the public intervene and caught the suspect whom they beat and stoned to death.
He further said that tension has been high in the area for the past two weeks after increased cases of incidents of theft being reported where armed robbers snatch hand bags from women before taking off in boda bodas.
“The man was beaten senseless. They tied his legs with a rope and dragged him all the way to Garissa primary school playground,” he said.
The police boss added that the body was taken to the Garissa mortuary waiting identification as investigations start to establish the motive of the killing.