Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Hospital psychologist, Mercy Akinyi, has blamed the recent cases of lynching witnessed in Kisumu on idleness among majority of youths.
Speaking to a Hivisasa writer, the psychologist said that majority of youth in Kisumu town were idle since some of them had been affected by lecturers strike hence the increase in cases of lynching.
“I piloted a research on those mugged by the angry members of the public and realized most were suspects alleged to have committed petty crimes, “said Akinyi.
The Kisumu psychologist noted that the four victims lynched, were suspect of witchcraft in Mabungo area 30 kilometers from Kisumu town.
“I urge the residents of Kisumu to stop taking the law in their own arms,” said Akinyi.
She regretted that those who died could not be rescued as police were out of sight.
Ms. Akinyi called for concerted efforts for parents to take the role of shaping their children into respected members of the community.
“Even though lynching is done with the motive of scaring any other person with intentions of performing some witchcraft the legal processes have to be followed,” said Akinyi.
She opposed that the community felt incompetent in handling some crimes in a legal way and subsequently took on mob justice in a quest for a just society.
She further urged the church and the administration to sensitize the community in the legal ways of dealing with the suspects.
According to a section of youth in Kisumu, they were idle because they lacked jobs and yet they wanted to satisfy their needs.
“We are calling upon the County government of Kisumu to create job opportunities for the youths in a bid to reduce cases the recent rampant cases of lynching,” said Wycliff Anyango a self-proclaimed leader of Mabungo.