Off-duty Garissa cop lynched in Nairobi as mob justice cases surge

An off-duty police officer attached to the Quick Response Unit (QRU) in Garissa County was confirmed among victims of a mob justice incident in Nairobi’s Eastlands area.

Cases of mob lynching have been on the rise amid efforts to address the menace.

According to police at Mowlem Police Station, the deceased was identified as Police Constable John Muya Karume, who was attached to the Quick Response Unit in Garissa County.

Authorities said the officer lived with his family in the Baraka area of Mowlem in Nairobi and had been off duty while undergoing a medical review.

His spouse told investigators that the officer left their home on March 13 at around 4:00pm but failed to return. Police later established that he had fallen victim to a mob justice incident reported earlier in the area.

The circumstances that led to the attack remain unclear, and investigators are working to establish what transpired before the officer was lynched, Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud said.

Authorities have launched investigations into the incident as police continue to pursue those responsible for the killing.

Police have discouraged mob lynching and urged members of the public to surrender suspects to authorities for processing.

Officials said at least 845 mob justice incidents were recorded across the country between January 2025 and February 2026.

Of these, 579 resulted in deaths while 266 led to injuries.

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

Embu registered 51 cases (33 deaths, 18 injuries), Kisumu 45 (36 deaths, nine injuries), Kirinyaga 39 (28 deaths, 11 injuries), and Kakamega 32 (19 deaths, 13 injuries). Marsabit, Taita Taveta and Tana River each recorded one fatal incident.

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old man died after he was allegedly attacked by two people during a dispute over a cow grazing on his grass plantation in Ugunja Sub-county, Siaya County.

The incident happened on Sunday evening, police said.

Police said members of the public arrested two suspects after they allegedly assaulted Kevin Opundo, 27.

Police officers who rushed to the scene at Asere Village established that the incident began at around 10:00am when the deceased found a cow tethered next to his grass plantation grazing on his farm.

Out of anger, Opundo reportedly untied the animal intending to take it to Umina Police Post.

However, while walking with the cow about 50 metres from the farm, he was allegedly intercepted by the two suspects who attacked him using sticks and stones.

The victim sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to Ambira Hospital for treatment, where he later succumbed while undergoing medical care.

His body has since been moved to Ambira Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Police have launched investigations into the incident.