Police rescue stock theft suspect from lynching from irate mob in Machakos

The man sustained injuries after the locals arrested and subjected him to mob justice for allegedly stealing goats in the Subcounty.  

He is suspected to be part of a stock theft syndicate terrorising residents in Machakos county and its neighbourhoods. 

The incident happened at Yaitha village in Kalama Subcounty on Monday.

"The man was subjected to mob injustice by locals after he was arrested by the same residents at Yaitha  village in Kalama,  Machakos county this evening, " a police source told the Star by phone on Monday. 

The suspect, according to police, was among three men who had been found to be in possession of three goats suspected to have been stolen. 

His two accomplices managed to escape from the irate mob's wrath.

"The three suspects were transporting three goats inside a car before the motor vehicle broke down near a school within the said Subcounty.  Two of them had gone to look for a mechanic when the other was arrested by the public and thoroughly beaten, " a source said.

Some locals are said to have been trailing the suspects before the motor vehicle developed a mechanical problem and stalled on the road.

Police officers responded to the scene and rescued the man who sustained serious injuries inflicted on him by the mob.

They rushed him to Machakos Level 5 hospital for medication. 

The locals turned their anger on the motor vehicle, vandalised and torched it into ashes. They left its shell at the scene.

Police have launched investigations into the incident as a search on the suspect's two accomplices who fled the scene begins.

Residents retaliated what they termed as increased stock theft Incidents in most parts of Machakos county.

In Lukenya, Katani, Ngelani and Kinanie areas for instance, locals have reportedly lost tens of heads of heards including cattle, goats and sheep.

Some of those who spoke to the Star said they had resorted to sleeping outside their homes protecting their livestock due to increased stock theft Incidents. 

"We are tired increased stock theft rates in this area. Our husbands nowadays spend their nights in the cold guarding cattle for fear of being stolen by thieves. We are tired," a woman told this reporter.  She is a resident of Ngelani sublocation in Athi River Subcounty within the same Machakos county.