Villagers trap and kill suspected thieves

Four men were lynched after they were allegedly caught stealing goats at Mithuthi-ini village of Tebere ward in Kirinyaga County at 5am yesterday.

Suspecting that the thieves would strike following a spike in similar incidences, residents spent the whole night waiting for them.

Mwea East Deputy Police Commander Lucas Chebet (pictured) said two suspects escaped while the rest were beaten to death by angry villagers who used machetes and other weapons.

“When we were informed about the attack, we rushed to the scene and found the four already dead. They had cuts all over,” he said.

The suspects, whose bodies were moved to the Kerugoya County Hospital mortuary, are yet to be identified.

Chebet said they are investigating the incident and would bring to book any villager who participated in the lynching.

In Nyeri, the police have arrested a 38-year-old man from Thatha village in Tetu over the death of his father.

The suspect is being held at Ihururu police station for allegedly assaulting his 80-year-old father and killing him.

According to Tetu Deputy County Commissioner Oddilliah Ndeti, the old man died at Nyeri County Referral Hospital where he had been rushed to after he sustained head injuries in the attack.

The incident happened on Sunday morning.

Authorities could not immediately establish the cause of the assault. 

In Siaya, the police have arrested a man found in possession of a rifle that was stolen from Umala Police Station last year.

The weapon is said to have been used in a series of robberies in the area.

The suspect was also found with police and military uniform. The police are however yet to confirm where he got the uniforms from.

Police also recovered 13 rounds of ammunition from the suspect  who was attempting to sell the firearm. The suspect is said to have been part of a gang masquerading as police officers and terrorising residents.