Three suspected motorbike robbers in Kakamega lynched

The scene where two suspected livestock thieves were lynched at Ngorobich, Kabimoi Location, in Baringo.[Yvonne Chepkwony/Standard]

Three suspected motorbike robbers were lynched on Thursday evening by irate Lugari residents in Kakamega County after they were suspected of being behind the murder of a boda boda operator that took place on Tuesday night.

According to Lugari Sub County police commander Solomon Esakina, the three were ambushed by angry locals at Makutano market while on three different motorbikes and burnt beyond recognition.

"They were ambushed while on three motorbikes after one of the boda boda operator who saw them when they sought the services of one of their colleague before he was killed at night on the same day, remembered their identity and raised alarm, prompting a huge crowd," said Esakina.

The officer added that on Tuesday evening, the three alighted from one of the Public Service Vehicles at Makutano market and sought the services of a boda boda operator to take them to Bungoma town before he was killed at night and his motorbike stolen.

"They pretended to be a passenger travelling to Bungoma, and they boarded one motorbike, but later on, the owner of the motorbike was killed and his motorbike was stolen while on the way to Bungoma and yesterday when they were seen they were attacked and burnt to ashes same to the three motorbike they were using," said Esakina.

Mr. Esakina urged locals not to take the law into their own hands and instead to inform and share the information with the police for due process of the law to be followed.

"My only urge to our people is to stop taking law into their own hands, when someone is suspected of committing a crime, let the locals report the matter to the police and allow mandated bodies to take up the matter as stipulated by the law. Killing people without subjecting them to legal process is not a solution," said Esakina.