Three men lost their lives on Wednesday after they were beaten to death and set ablaze by an irate mob.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the men had reportedly snatched a handbag from a woman in Thika’s Makongeni area, Kiambu County.
“The trio who were on a motorbike had attacked a woman who was going about her business at Polysack area before escaping towards Thika town on a red getaway motorbike whose plates were missing. The woman’s screams of distress caught boda boda riders and a few other young men who were ‘eating root’ at a nearby ‘nduthi’ shed waiting for a squad, by surprise,” the DCI said.
The boda boda riders took off in hot pursuit of the fleeing trio, determined to bring them to justice.
The chase was brought to a halt at Delta Petrol Station when a speeding matatu suddenly approached and nearly collided with the getaway motorbike.
“And as the bike swerved to avoid a head-on collision, its rider lost control and the trio crushed on the tarmac with a thud!” DCIÂ adds.
The boda boda riders then descended on the hapless men with blows and kicks, accusing them of tarnishing their profession.
By the time police officers who were attending to other emergencies arrived, the three had unfortunately been crushed and their bodies set ablaze.
Police moved their bodies to the General Kago hospital morgue awaiting identification by their kin.
Meanwhile, three knives belonging to the suspects, a mobile phone and personal effects robbed from the victim were recovered.
The investigative agency urges the public to avoid taking matters into their own hands but instead handover culprits to the police.
“Members of the public are advised not to take the law into their own hands but hand over such suspects to police for justice in a court of law,” the DCI added.
