A tragic incident occurred in Sindo Town, Suba South, Homa Bay County, where a middle-aged woman, Jane Atieno, was lynched by an angry mob after being accused of stealing a one-and-a-half-year-old child. The incident unfolded in the early hours of the day and has left the community in shock.
According to reports, Jane Atieno went to the home of the child’s mother, allegedly to purchase logs of wood for cooking. However, while there, she is said to have abducted the child and handed her over to a motorbike rider to escape with. The mother later realized her child was missing, and upon questioning Jane, the woman denied any knowledge of the child’s whereabouts. This denial immediately raised suspicions, leading the mother to raise an alarm.
Within minutes, the alarm attracted the attention of local residents, who quickly gathered and descended on Jane Atieno. Armed with crude weapons, the mob began attacking her in a bid to extract the truth about the missing child. Despite her pleas for mercy, Jane was overpowered and beaten brutally by the crowd.
The woman was rushed to Suba Sub-County Hospital, where she was given treatment for the injuries sustained in the attack. However, Jane Atieno succumbed to her injuries and passed away while receiving medical care. Her death has sparked outrage in the region, drawing attention to the issue of mob justice and the dangers of taking the law into one’s own hands.
Area Deputy County Commissioner Beatrice Odira confirmed the incident and condemned the actions of the mob. She urged the public to refrain from engaging in vigilante justice, emphasizing that the law should take its course in such cases. “We must uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is served through the proper legal channels. No one should take matters into their own hands,” Odira stated.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while the body of the deceased has been moved to the mortuary for post-mortem examination. The whereabouts of the child remain unknown, and the police are actively searching for leads. This tragic event has ignited discussions about the prevalence of mob justice and the need for stricter law enforcement to prevent such incidents in the future.
