Businessman robbed of gun, over Sh500,000 in Machakos

Police are investigating an incident in which a businessman was reportedly attacked by gangsters and robbed of his licensed firearm and Sh570,000 cash in Athi River, Machakos county.

The incident, according to police, occurred along the Nairobi - Mombasa highway in Maanzoni area on Christmas Day at around 7.00pm.

It was reported to the Kyumbi police station as a robbery with violence incident report.

The victim, who operates a gas refilling plant in Kyumbi, Machakos county told police that he was on his way home from the said business when the robbers struck.

Police said the victim had just left his gas plant after an inspection when his vehicle got stuck in a deep trench as he attempted to join the busy Nairobi - Mombasa highway from the said business premises.

A man armed with a firearm, according to the victim, emerged and attacked him. He reportedly pointed a firearm at him.

The suspect then forcibly opened the victim's car driver’s door and overpowered him making away with the latter's Glock 19 pistol and an envelop containing Sh570,000.

The victim, however, later recovered his gun's magazine loaded with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition after it fell on the ground at the scene during the scuffle between the suspect and himself.

 "The victim reported that the man who attacked him crossed the said highway and escaped on a motorbike with concealed number plate that was waiting on the opposite side of the road," a police source told the Star on Friday.

The suspect, together with the rider of the motorcycle sped towards the Nairobi general direction as they escaped the scene of incident.

Officers from Kyumbi police station accompanied by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations detectives, attached to the same station visited the scene and processed it. 

The case is pending under investigations.

In another incident within the same Athi River Sub county, a man was lynched after he was subjected to mob injustice for an alleged stock theft.

The man died on the spot after he was burnt beyond recognition in the incident that happened at Ngalalya Village in Lukenya location on the same, Christmas Day. It's said to have been a botched stock theft.

The incident that happened at about 12.00pm was reported to Joska police station by a villager.

"The man reported that he received a phone call from one of his neighbors informing him of a suspicious truck that had been spotted in the area with six, all men aboard, allegedly preparing to load 22 heads of cattle into it," a source told the Star.

The driver of the moto vehicle reportedly sped off after some villagers raised alarm.

Police said the the lynched suspect was cornered by irate villagers after the sextet fled in different directions.

He was burnt beyond recognition while all the 22 heads of cattle were returned to the owner.

A 67-year-old neighbor and herder aged 63 were later arrested following the incident.

Police removed the lynched man's body to Kangundo Level 4 hospital mortuary awaiting an autopsy and identification.

Police have launched investigations into the incident.