Two suspected robbers were stoned to death by an angry mob on Tuesday evening after a botched robbery mission in Nairobi’s Kileleshwa area.

Police said the two men were riding on a motorcycle when they were confronted by members of the public at the junction of Olengurune and Gatundu roads at around 4pm.

Witnesses said the pair had allegedly been attacking and robbing pedestrians when an alarm was raised, triggering a brief but dramatic chase.

Among those who joined the pursuit were boda boda riders who chased the suspects for several metres before they were cornered, knocked off the motorcycle, and stoned to death by the mob.

The motorcycle they were riding on was also destroyed during the chaotic scene.

Police officers arrived minutes later and found the two men already dead. The bodies were moved to the mortuary for identification and autopsy.

Authorities have repeatedly warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, urging them instead to surrender suspects to police for investigation and possible prosecution.

The Kileleshwa incident is part of a worrying surge in mob justice cases across the country.

Police say at least five suspects were lynched on Monday alone in separate incidents, with a similar number killed on Sunday.

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

Of these, 579 resulted in deaths while 266 left victims injured.

Kiambu County recorded the highest number with 90 cases — including 58 deaths and 32 injuries — followed closely by Nairobi with 85 incidents, which led to 55 deaths and 30 injuries.

Other counties with significant cases include Embu with 51 incidents, Kisumu 45, Kirinyaga 39 and Kakamega 32.

Marsabit, Taita Taveta and Tana River each recorded one fatal mob justice incident during the same period.

Murkomen said the rising cases have raised concern within government, noting that such attacks often involve violent assaults and public humiliation before suspects can be formally investigated or prosecuted.

He attributed the trend partly to mistrust in the criminal justice system, with some members of the public believing investigations and court processes are too slow or ineffective.

“The release of suspects often reinforces the perception that the justice system is ineffective, prompting communities to take the law into their own hands,” Murkomen said.

Authorities also say the spread of crime-related content and “instant justice” videos on social media has fuelled copycat incidents.

Police warn that the spike in violent street robberies and machete attacks in Nairobi is real and ongoing, adding that intensified operations are underway.

Officials, however, note that the trend is also linked to broader social and economic challenges, including unemployment, youth marginalisation and organised criminal networks emboldened by past impunity.