Mob fury wave: Five suspects killed in one day as 845 lynching cases rock Kenya

At least five suspects were killed in separate mob justice incidents reported on Sunday, highlighting what police have termed an alarming trend.

Police have strongly discouraged mob lynching and urged members of the public to surrender suspects to authorities for due process and possible prosecution.

According to police, such cases are rising in both urban and rural areas.

In Gatongora, Kiambu County, two suspects were stoned to death after allegedly attempting to steal a bag from a woman who was walking to work on Sunday morning.

The woman told police that three men on a motorcycle approached her at the Kihunguro roundabout. She said one of them grabbed her bag, sparking a struggle as she screamed for help.

Residents and other road users responded and chased the trio, cornering two of them and stoning them to death. The third suspect escaped.

The bodies were moved to the mortuary pending identification and post-mortem examinations.

In Limuru, Kiambu County, another suspect was killed by a mob at Kwambira shopping centre after being accused, alongside others, of attempting to break into a shop.

He was rushed to Tigoni Sub-County Hospital but succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment. The body was moved to the mortuary pending identification and autopsy.

In Buruburu, Nairobi, a man accused of attempting to snatch a mobile phone was stoned to death on Sunday afternoon outside the Harambee Sacco gate. He was reportedly riding a motorcycle with an accomplice who escaped.

In Makongeni, near City Stadium in Nairobi, another suspect was stoned to death after a failed robbery attempt. His accomplices fled on foot. The body was moved to the mortuary.

Elsewhere, police managed to rescue suspects from angry mobs. In Matunda, Kakamega County, three men accused of motorcycle theft were saved and rushed to the hospital in stable condition. In Kamagambo, Migori County, two suspects were also rescued and taken to the hospital with multiple injuries.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said 845 mob justice incidents were recorded nationwide between January 2025 and the end of February 2026.

Of these, 579 resulted in deaths while 266 caused injuries.

Kiambu County recorded the highest number with 90 cases, followed by Nairobi with 85. Other affected counties include Embu, Kisumu, Kirinyaga, and Kakamega.

“Concerns have been raised over the rising incidents of mob justice. These cases often involve violent attacks, public humiliation, and, in some instances, fatalities before suspects can be formally investigated or prosecuted,” Murkomen said.

He attributed the trend to mistrust in the criminal justice system, slow investigations, and the perception that suspects are frequently released.

Murkomen also cited the spread of crime-related content and “instant justice” videos on social media as fuelling copycat attacks.

Police say they are intensifying operations to address violent robberies and machete-related attacks, particularly in Nairobi, while acknowledging that unemployment, youth marginalisation and organised crime networks are worsening the situation.