Two suspected criminals lynched by a mob

Homa Bay Friday April 28, 2023

K.N.A By Davis Langat

Two suspected criminals were on Thursday evening killed by an irate mob in Kajulu Sub-location in Rangwe Sub County.

Homa Bay County Police Commander Samson Kinne said that the public took the law into their hands after they linked the suspects to criminal activities that have taken place within Sinema and Asumbi trading centres.

 The two male suspects died after villagers who were armed with crude weapons went after them in their homes.

Police arrived at the scene but the suspects had already been killed.

 The deaths came following a spate of robberies and theft cases in the area.

Local residents claimed an un known gang has been terrorizing residents of Rangwe and Sinema by breaking into homes and stealing property.

John Ouko, a local resident, said the criminals raided the two areas on Sunday night including breaking into a home of a clergyman 

 He added that a 17-year-old girl was defiled during one of the robberies last the weekend.

Three days later, the criminals went back to steal from other homes.

 A business man reported that a group of criminals broke into his home on Wednesday night and took away Sh 500,000 and other household items. Another minor was also allegedly defiled.

The locals said one of the suspects dropped his jacket which they used to trace him.

 "He had a jungle jacket which dropped off as the gang was running away. It is the cloth that residents used to identify one suspect," a witness said.

  One suspect who was found in the neighbouring Genga sub-location was killed by the irate Mob.

They got hold of a man identified as Victor Odhiambo, alias Raila who was accused of being part of the gang.

The man was hacked by residents who used machetes and other sharp objects to kill him on the spot.

 Later, the mob went to Wi Koteng Sub-location where another suspect is said to have been hiding.

There they got hold of a man identified as Peter Ouko and also killed him on the spot.

The two bodies were taken to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.

The Police Commander confirmed said that investigations have been launched to trace those who killed the two men.

 He cautioned the residents against taking security matters into their own hands.

 "No one knows if the Lynch victims were indeed engaging in crime. They should have been handled by security personnel," he said.

 He said a total of six houses were set on fire during the incident. 

Courtesy K.N.A