Shock as three guards hacked to death

Embu, Kenya: Three guards were hacked to death while a fourth escaped with machete injuries after a gang ambushed them outside the premises they were guarding in two separate incidents.

A gang of six raided a shop at Ugweri market, Embu East sub-county, on Saturday night where they killed John Kariuki and Njue Njoka. A third guard, Jacob Ithaga, sustained serious injuries.

And in Embu town's Dallas estate, a watchman was hacked to death by thugs outside the shop he was guarding on Friday night.

Area Administration Police Commandant Charles Machinji said the gang then broke into two Mpesa shops and a hardware store.

"They did not steal any property in the Mpesa shops but stole about Sh1,000 that was in the hardware's till machine. We have launched a manhunt for the gang," said Machinji.

He said the watchmen had slept in the same shop corridor and could have been drank as they offered no resistance.

Machinji said Ithaga was admitted to Runyenjes Sub-county Hospital where medics say he is out of danger, while the bodies were taken to Kieni Mission Hospital mortuary