At Msalaba Village in Malava, Kakamega County, as enraged locals set ablaze the home of an assistant chief after two suspected livestock thieves were lynched and later died from their injuries. The mob claimed the two victims, who succumbed at Malava Hospital on Tuesday morning, were legitimate livestock traders rather than thieves.
The chaos began on Monday night when the two men were found with a herd of livestock under suspicious circumstances. A mob confronted and brutally attacked them, leading to severe injuries. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the two succumbed early Tuesday morning.
News of the deaths spread rapidly, triggering anger among villagers who insisted the deceased were innocent traders. The situation escalated when the mob retrieved the bodies from the hospital, marched to the assistant chief’s homestead, and torched his houses in retaliation. The administrator narrowly escaped the mob’s wrath by fleeing the scene.
Malava Sub-County Police Commander Paul Mwenda has since condemned the actions, warning residents against taking the law into their own hands. He emphasized that investigations into the lynching and attack on the administrator are ongoing.
In response to the unrest, security teams have been deployed to the area to restore calm and sensitize locals on the dangers of mob justice. “Mob lynching undermines the rule of law and perpetuates a breakdown in law and order,” Mwenda stated.
Experts have raised alarms over the increasing prevalence of mob lynching in Kenya, with at least two cases reported daily nationwide. The trend highlights growing frustrations among communities over perceived inefficiencies in the justice system.
The burning of the assistant chief’s home marks an extreme reaction, indicating deep mistrust between residents and local authorities. Analysts have called for urgent measures to rebuild trust, improve security responses, and educate the public on the importance of due process.
The bodies of the deceased have been returned to the mortuary for autopsies as investigations continue. Authorities urge members of the public to report suspected criminals to law enforcement rather than resorting to violence.
The incident in Kakamega underscores the urgent need for community dialogue and effective law enforcement to curb the rising cases of mob justice and restore faith in Kenya’s legal systems.
