The tragic rise in mob lynchings and violent altercations has taken a grim toll in Kenya, with multiple incidents reported in recent days. In Makueni County, a man was lynched by a mob on January 22 after being accused of murdering his father. The father’s body had been discovered on January 19, prompting suspicions and mob justice. Police reported that the mob traced the suspect to a local shopping center, dragged him home, and stoned him to death.
Authorities condemned the lynching, urging the public to surrender suspects to law enforcement for due processing and prosecution. “Mob justice undermines the rule of law,” said a police spokesperson, adding that investigations into the father’s murder are ongoing. The bodies of both the father and son were moved to the mortuary for autopsy and further investigations.
Separately, in Trans Nzoia, a former polytechnic student succumbed to injuries sustained during an altercation outside his institution. The 24-year-old called a colleague to report the assault before being found with visible injuries at a kiosk near the gate. He was rushed to Kijana Wamalwa Teaching and Referral Hospital but died shortly after. Police are investigating the incident, and the body was moved to the mortuary for autopsy.
In another chilling event, a woman identified as Purity Chepkoech was discovered dead on the roadside along the Kitale-Eldoret highway in Kiminini. Her body bore a deep head wound, a cut on her left leg, and bruises on her back. Authorities suspect she was killed elsewhere and her body dumped at the scene. Investigations are underway, but no arrests have been made so far.
The violence extended to Nairobi’s Kasarani area, where the body of Isaac Mwangi Kagure, 35, was found on the roadside near Safari Park Hotel. The Wednesday murder left Mwangi with multiple stab wounds. Police moved the body to the mortuary and launched investigations.
These cases highlight an alarming trend of unresolved violence, mob justice, and murder across the country. Police have reiterated their call for communities to shun mob lynching and support investigations through proper legal channels. Authorities are working to uncover motives and bring perpetrators to justice, but the rising incidences of violence underscore the need for enhanced law enforcement, public awareness, and conflict resolution mechanisms to curb the escalating cycle of vengeance and crime.
