Police in Igembe, Meru County, have launched an investigation into the brutal murder of a 32-year-old man whose body was found lying by the roadside with multiple injuries.
The deceased, identified as Ruphus Kirimi, was discovered in a pool of blood along the Athiru-Bwetha Road in Kirimampiu location on Sunday. Authorities suspect that the killing was linked to a dispute, though further investigations are ongoing.
According to initial reports, Kirimi was allegedly attacked after he was accused of assaulting a local elderly man before fleeing. The attackers, believed to be three in number, reportedly tracked him down and fatally assaulted him before escaping to an unknown location.
Police officers who arrived at the scene found severe injuries on the victim’s head and both legs. The body was later transported to a local mortuary, where an autopsy is expected to be conducted as investigations continue.
Authorities have assured the public that they are pursuing known suspects, who will face murder charges once apprehended. Law enforcement officers have urged residents to resolve conflicts amicably rather than resorting to violence.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Gachoka, Embu County, a suspected thief met a gruesome fate after being lynched by an angry mob. The unidentified man was accused of breaking into a shop in Kanyariri village.
Witnesses say he was stoned to death before his body was set ablaze, leaving him burnt beyond recognition. Police officers later moved the charred remains to the mortuary for autopsy and identification.
Authorities have once again condemned the rising cases of mob lynching in the country. They have urged communities to surrender suspects to law enforcement agencies rather than taking justice into their own hands. Police data indicates that at least one person falls victim to mob violence daily, with some cases later proving to be wrongful accusations.
To curb the trend, local administrators have been instructed to conduct civic education on the dangers and legal repercussions of such acts. Several individuals involved in past lynching incidents have already been arrested and charged with murder, serving as a warning to others who might engage in similar violence.
