A section of Makao estate residents in Nakuru town early yesterday lynched a suspected thief alleging that he wanted to steal a chicken from a homestead in the area.
The ugly incident left residents shocked as they flocked the scene to witness the ordeal for the better part of the day as they tried to identify the victim before police ferried the body to Nakuru General Hospital Mortuary.
According to John Mwangi, whose homestead the incident occurred, said that the suspect forced his way into his compound in company of two others who escaped, before trying to break into a chicken pen at around 4am before he raised an alarm.
“He was in company of two others who escaped but I managed to hold him as he tried to jump over the fence. He appeared drunk and confessed that they wanted to steal my chicken. My neighbours refused to spare him and dragged him outside the compound and beat him up before lynching him,’’ said Mwangi.
A church leader from the area Pastor Amos Waiguru however condemned the incident arguing that it was wrong for people to kill criminal suspects and instead urged them that they should be handing them to police for law enforcement.
“This young man could have strayed into the compound while in a drunkard state and not necessarily wanted to steal. There is no concrete evidence that he intended to steal. I urge people not to kill others indiscriminately without seeking proper justice. It is inhuman,’’ advised Pastor Waiguru.
While confirming the incident, Nakuru police boss Bernard Kioko once again condemned the culture of persecuting criminal suspects advising them not to take law into their own hands.
He said police had launched an investigation concerning the matter.