Thugs lynched in Nairobi as cases of mob injustice increase

By Cyrus Ombati

Three more suspected thugs were lynched, as cases of mob injustice appear to be increasing in Nairobi each day.

The three were stoned to death by an angry crowd in separate incidents in Nairobi's Dandora, Gikomba and Kibera.

They met their fate as they attempted to steal from members of public and bars.

In Gikomba and Dandora, the suspects had tried to rob revellers in bars when the public lynched them and weapons found on them.

The other suspect was killed as he tried to mug residents in Kibera.

The killings are the latest in an increasing trend whereby the public lynch suspects in attacks across the country and so far up to 150 have been killed in three months.

At the weekend alone, five suspects were lynched in separate incidents in the city in botched robberies.

Police statistics show the trend is on the rise and blame the same on ignorance on the public and warn that it is criminal offence to lynch suspects.

Nairobi Area police boss Anthony Kibuchi Tuesday warned that anyone found to engage in lynching of suspects will face serious charges including murder.

"The public need to know it is an offence to lynch suspects and whoever may be arrested would be taken to court to face serious charges," he said.

Commissioner of police Mathew Iteere has too said he is concerned that the society seems to implicitly support the violence and actively take part in covering up the perpetrators.

Iteere said police are investigating 109 cases of mob injustice that occurred in July and August, including 96 which resulted in death and are therefore cases of murder.

This month alone, more than 40 cases have been reported resulting to deaths of similar number across the country. Most incidents occur in Nairobi, Nyanza and Central provinces.

Elsewhere, police are looking for a gang of six that terrorised residents in Kayole Monday night robbing several shops in a daring attack.

The suspects were wearing Maasai shukas when they launched the attacks. Witnesses say they robbed at least three M-Pesa shops and a chemist before hijacking motorbikes and escaped while shooting in the air.

Police say no arrest has been made and that a hunt on them has been launched. No injury was reported in the incident.