Irate residents of Mirera village in Naivasha have raided the homesteads of two families torching their houses and livestock over an increased case of cattle rustling in the area.
During the Thursday incident, over ten people escaped death narrowly after the arsonists doused their houses with petrol before setting them ablaze leaving four dairy cattle dead and property worth thousands in ashes.
Following the incident, a heavy contingent of police was sent to the area which for the last couple of months has recorded increased cases of livestock theft.
One of the residents Joyce Njambi said that the two families were associated with rustlers.
She said some of the suspects who had been arrested in connection with the livestock robbery had been released by police in unclear circumstances and were boasting to area residents.
“Last week we managed to arrest two suspects who confessed that some members of the two families have been buying the stolen livestock and hence the action to discipline them,” she said.
The families, however, denied that they were involved in livestock theft noting that some of those behind the arson attack were envious of their development.
One of the victims James Mbugua who had been accused of ferrying the stolen livestock broke into tears claiming that he was innocent and was not involved in the theft.
“We would have died in the house were it not for my son and we have nothing to do with the cattle theft but some people are malicious,” he said.
Naivasha OCPD Samuel Waweru confirmed the incidents adding that they had launched investigations.