Lurambi mob nab theft suspect, beat him to death

Rowdy residents overpowered the police and took away a suspect accused of stealing church items and tithes.

They beat the suspect to death in an incident that happened in Eshisiru village, Lurambi constituency, Kakamega.

Locals were outraged that after they apprehended the suspect with stolen church chairs and handed him over to police, they saw the suspect talking to the police.

They thought it implied he had a good relationship with the officers and that he might be released.

According to residents, there have been numerous cases of break-ins in churches, where security guards are killed. Chairs and tithe are always stolen and suspects arrested but later released.

Police who were overpowered could not do anything and only stood at a distance while the angry mob attacked the suspect.

Lazy youth

Several months ago, clerics and church leaders from Lurambi lamented while blaming youths and lazy people who do not want to work but resort to stealing in churches. They warned them of dire consequences and punishment from God, who forbids stealing.

Some churches in remote areas hired security guards, but last month one of the night guards was beaten to death by a night gang. According to Francis Nyangweso, the suspect was Milton Makatwa of Butere.

He was preparing to leave when he saw residents chanting "come out and produce the stolen chairs or face death". They were baying for his blood alleging Makatwa has been stealing church items and selling them.

He added that after thorough interrogation it turned out that Makatwa was lying and the crowd beat him to death in his house.

"I was on my way out when I saw a huge angry crowd storming my home while holding the man who was in a bad state. The crowd said the suspect had told them he (Makatwa) steals the church items and sells them to me. I had to explain myself," Nyangweso said.

"One of the locals suggested they inspect my house and none of the stolen items was found."