Five suspected thugs lynched in Nairobi on Wednesday night

By CYRUS OMBATI

NAIROBI, KENYA: Five suspected thugs were Wednesday night lynched in three separate incidents of attempted robberies in the fight against crime in Nairobi.

The killings ignited a debate on who is to blame given the number of those dead was alarming.

Police said two men were stoned to death in Kahawa Sukari area, two in Kawangware and one in Ngong Town.

Head of Nairobi police Benson Kibue said those killed in Kahawa Sukari were on a motorbike and were accused of being behind a rise in crime in the area in which several people including Kenyatta University students have been attacked and robbed.

“The mob also torched the motorbike that the suspects had. We believe this was in reaction to last week’s incident in which people on motorbikes attacked and robbed residents,” said Kibue.

He added police had mobilised to enhance patrols in the area.

The suspects killed in Kawangware are said to have tried to break into a warehouse when an alarm was raised. Kibue said the suspects were killed by a mob that responded to screams from guards on duty in Muslim area.

Another suspect aged 25, was killed in Ololua area after he and two others were accused of trying to break into a children’s home.

The other suspects managed to escape on foot in the confusion.

He at the same time warned against mob lynching saying it is criminal.

“We have always warned Kenyans against lynching suspects. That is criminal and those arrested over the incident will be prosecuted,” added Kibue.

People usually resort to such means of dealing with criminals after feeling let down by police.

The bodies were later moved to the mortuaries.