Mob kills alleged rapist in Yatta

By Victor Nzuma

MACHAKOS, KENYA: A forty-year-old man was Thursday night beaten unconscious and later lynched by an angry mob in Mavoloni sub-location, of Yatta sub-county after defiling a seven -year old-girl.

The incident occurred at about 9pm at Nzaioni village when the man went to the home and found the girl  alone where he forced her to the beastly action.

Immediately after defiling the girl, the man tried to escape but neighbours who were attracted by the victim's screams cornered him and beat him senselessly before setting him ablaze.

The girl, an orphan, who is in class four at Iembeni primary school has been staying with her grandmother who was not at home at the moment.

Angry villagers stayed at the scene watching the smouldering body until mid-night waiting for the police who never showed up and later retreated to their homes.

Contacted at about 9.30am, the Yatta OCS Mr David Muli, said arrangements were being made to collect the remains and take them to the mortuary as investigations were launched.

The Mavoloni sub-location assistant chief Mr John Muasya Kiio, who arrived at the scene a while after the mob had already killed the suspect said that the man had  previous criminal records of terrorising the residents in the area.

He however, cautioned the residents against taking the law into their own hands whenever they apprehend such suspects but instead hand them over to the authorities for appropriate action.

He said they were waiting for the police to organise how to take the girl to the hospital for medication as she was in great pain.

The man is said to have been staying alone after he differed with his family some years ago according to the assistant chief.