Tired of losing their goats to criminals at night, residents of Kiratina village in Ruiru decided to form a vigilante group to beat the thieves.

And so when Wilson Kinyanjui, 75, heard an unusual movement outside his house at 2am on Sunday, he decided to come out and check what was happening.

“I found that my four goats had been taken away. I knew right away the movements were of criminals stealing the goats,” Mr Kinyanjui said.

Kinyanjui raised the alarm and the vigilante group, in conjunction with the residents, started hunting down the culprits.

Within no time, three suspected criminals were rounded up with the goats inside a Nissan matatu. Two were beaten to death before they, together with the vehicle, were set ablaze. One managed to escape.

Residents said goat theft in the area has become rampant and the Government had failed to provide security.

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“In the last one month, the residents have lost more than 20 goats to criminals. The security in the area has deteriorated,” said Sam Mwai a resident.

Lax police

The residents accused the local police of laxity.

“We feel some Government officers are part of the goat-stealing racket since we do not understand why some thieves, who we arrested a week ago stealing our goats, were released by the chief,” said Rachel Wambui, another resident.

Josses Ntwiga, the chief, refuted claims that he had released any criminals. He however asked not be quoted saying he would not comment on a matter touching on mob justice.

The residents called on The National Transport and Safety Authority to suspend Ruiru based Runa Sacco’s operations since the matatu in which the goats had been recovered was one of their fleet.