A 21-year-old man was lynched by enraged members of the public on Monday at Migwena Village in Bondo after allegedly stealing a motorcycle at Wich-lum beach.
Raphael Oyugi is accused of stealing Cyprian Okwach’s motorcycle on Sunday night. A neighbor’s child, who allegedly saw Oyugi fleeing with the motorcycle, reported the theft.
Okwach raised the alarm and gathered his fellow boda boda operators to search for the stolen vehicle after the child reported the incident.
According to Bondo Deputy County Commissioner Samson Akach, the motorcycle was found around 2:00 a.m. at an abandoned house several kilometers away. The suspect had gone into hiding by that point.
Angry members of the public continued their manhunt, and they were eventually able to locate Oyugi late Monday morning. According to the Deputy County Commissioner, the enraged mob then attacked Oyugi, and the suspect then confessed to stealing the motorcycle.
Boda boda riders decided to frog march him to Bondo Police Station after he confessed to the theft. Oyugi, who had begged the riders for forgiveness, refused to go to the police station.
According to reports, Oyugi then started a verbal spat with the boda boda men, causing enraged members of the public to beat him again. Things went from bad to worse when the mob decided to set fire to the suspect.
While confirming the incident, the Deputy County Commissioner stated that Oyugi’s body has since been removed to Bondo Hospital Mortuary, where post mortem examinations will be performed.
Speaking to members of the public, he stated that mob justice was illegal and that no one had the right to take the life of another. He warned residents against taking the law into their own hands and advised them to report any problems to the appropriate authorities.
According to Akach, once a suspect is handed over to the police, investigations are conducted before the suspect is charged in court.
