Two suspected thieves have been lynched by irate members of the public at Cheboin sub location in Bomet East.
Irked by the spate of theft cases, the mob mounted a manhunt for the suspects on Saturday morning after getting wind of a planned robbery.
Residents who spoke to the Standard said the suspects have been terrorising them for long.
In a dramatic two hour operation, the public engaged the two in cat and mouse chase before getting hold of them at Miti Mingi village in the sub location.
Ronald Kirui said they got wind of the suspects and after identifying them positively they decided to take action.
Kirui said the suspects were planning to rob a home at Miti Mingi village in Cheboin when they were busted.
He said they were armed with crude weapons and tools believed to be used in breaking into houses and shops.
“We interrogated them and they opened up that they are part of the gang involved burglary cases reported in the area and revealed that they are more than 10 people,” Robert Tonui another resident said.
Tonui said their plea for leniency fell on deaf ears after members of the public beat them up before setting them ablaze.
Bomet County police commander Naomi Ichami said charred bodies of two suspects were taken to Longisa County Hospital mortuary.
She cautioned the members of the public against taking the law into their hands.
She said the public should volunteer information to police to enable them to investigate rampant cases and take action on suspects according to the law.
“Members of the public should desist from taking the law into their hands. We need such information so that we can arrest suspect,” she said.
The incident comes a day after a high-level security meeting in Bomet by the regional security team to address rising cases of insecurity in the region.
Leading the team, Rift Valley Police Commandant Edward Mwamburi said cases of cybercrime, murder and car theft in south rift was a point of concern to them.
“We are putting our acts and you will see action, our teams on the ground are under firm instruction to root out the vices,” said Mwamburi.
Mwamburi said investigations are underway to arrest suspects behind the recent killings in Kericho.
