Tragedy struck in the Highrise area of Nairobi on Thursday, January 30, when a 32-year-old man was lynched by an irate mob as his mother watched helplessly. The victim, accused of stealing an unknown item, succumbed to his injuries hours later at Mbagathi Hospital, where he had been rushed for treatment. His body was later moved to the hospital’s mortuary, awaiting postmortem.
According to police reports, the man was first spotted being attacked by members of the public, prompting witnesses to alert his mother. She arrived at the scene and made desperate pleas for the mob to spare her son’s life, but her cries fell on deaf ears. Though the mob momentarily ceased the beating, the injuries inflicted proved fatal.
Authorities have condemned the growing trend of mob justice, reiterating the importance of surrendering suspects to law enforcement for due legal process. The police have since launched investigations into the incident and are seeking to identify those responsible for the extrajudicial killing.
Meanwhile, in a separate harrowing incident in Marafa, Magarini, Kilifi County, another life was lost under mysterious circumstances. The body of 34-year-old Samson Manyeso Karisa was discovered lying along the shores of River Galana near a bridge, bearing injuries consistent with an attack by a blunt object.
Investigators at the scene found burns on Karisa’s head, raising further suspicions about the nature of his death. Across the river, police also discovered a burnt motorcycle, which the deceased had reportedly been riding earlier in the day. Witnesses last saw him in the morning, ferrying his school-going child as a pillion passenger to Baricho Primary School.
The police have since launched an investigation into the murder, though the motive remains unknown. Authorities have appealed to the public to come forward with any information that might aid in apprehending those responsible.
These two incidents underscore the rising cases of violent and extrajudicial killings in different parts of the country. The police continue to urge the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, emphasizing the importance of allowing due process to take its course.
As investigations continue, these tragedies serve as stark reminders of the consequences of mob justice and unsolved violence, further emphasizing the need for strengthened law enforcement and civic education on justice procedures in Kenya.
