Suspected motorbike thief stoned, set on fire by boda boda operators

Residents crowd the scene where a suspected thief was stoned before police arrived and rescued him from burning. The police had thought he was dead before he made some movements. Tuesday April 13. [Muriithi Mugo, Standard]

Boda boda operators have stoned a suspected motorbike thief and set his body ablaze outside Huduma Centre in Embu town.

Police officers who rushed to the scene thought the suspect had died and were in the process of picking "the body" to take to mortuary when he made some movements.

They immediately rushed the suspect to Embu Teaching and Referral Hospital where he is being treated for serious head injuries and burns on his hands and chest.

Eastern region boda boda chairman Martin Muchira cautioned his fellow operators against taking the law into their own hands.

“I am told the suspect was picked from Mutunduri and brought to Embu town where he revealed that he was part of a gang that murdered two operators in Kamiu village three weeks ago,” he said.

Muchira cautioned boda boda operators against lynching suspected thieves.

He noted that the suspect had also revealed that stolen motorbikes were sold in Thika town but had not finished giving the information when a group stoned him.

“We should allow the law to take its course and give the police and investigation agencies time to gather enough evidence to pin perpetrators linked to stolen bikes,” added Muchira.

He also noted that some of the operators who seemed in haste to administer mob justice were accomplices.

Embu West Deputy Sub-county Police Commander Samuel Gitau said his officers were investigating the incident.