Three suspected thieves 'get blinded' in beer depot

An angry mob was on Monday stopped from lynching three suspects who broke into a beer depot at Khayega market, Kakamega County.

And although the three had a lucky escape, they allegedly mysteriously "got struck by blindness" after stealing Sh1.2 million at the depot.

It took tens of Administration Police to ward off the mob, which was baying for their blood.

“We should not only obey but live by the law. The three are just suspects until a court of law proves otherwise,” said an Administration Police officer.

The mid-morning incident attracted travellers plying the Kakamega-Kisumu road who were eager to catch a glimpse of the suspects after word went round that they had been blinded.

“These thugs have been terrorising us throughout the festive season. Whenever they are arrested, we meet them again. Now that police look unable to deal with them, we want to teach them a lesson,” said one of the residents.

“This is the third break in at this depot. Thieves have forced the owner to acquire black magic to catch them,” said another local identified as Japheth Khakabo.

Shinyalu OCPD Joseph Jebii, who called for sobriety while tackling crime, said the three were well known people in the locality, and that they knew the operations of the depot so well.

Jebii said they took the watchman guarding the depot hostage at around 2.30am, accessed the building using a rear window and made away with Sh1.2 million.

He laughed off allegations that black magic had been used in apprehending and confining the three in the scene of crime until the depot owner, Vincent Mmuka, arrived.

“That cannot be true. The three came to the scene of crime in the morning like other onlookers. The watchman whom they had confined in a latrine positively identified them. We arrested and temporarily held them in the depot to save them from mob justice,” he said.

He said the move by police to hold them inside the depot could have triggered the rumour that they were struck by blindness.