Two suspected livestock thieves lynched by angry Murang’a villagers

Murang’a,

Saturday, December 30, 2023

KNA by Bernard Munyao

Irate villagers of Gakonya in Murang’a East Sub County at the dawn of Saturday lynched two suspected livestock thieves.

The two were cornered by the villagers after a local resident raised an alarm after realising one of her cows was missing.

The villagers who responded to the alarm embarked on a search for the cow only to find the missing cow in a lorry that was being driven towards Murang’a town from Sagana.

The lorry that was also torched by the residents was ferrying four cows believed to have been stolen from neighbouring areas.

The driver of the lorry and one person managed to escape as the two were caught by the residents who beat them to death and set their bodies on fire.

Police officers from Murang'a police station and the county fire engine who rushed to the scene to rescue the victims whose bodies were burnt beyond recognition were blocked by the irate residents.

The locals decried increased theft of their cows and goats in the area saying the trend has left them counting huge losses.

The victim of the theft, Susan Wanjiku said that her cow was stolen at dawn and thanked neighbours who came out and mounted a search for the missing cow.

“I heard my dogs barking and when I got out, I realized my cow was missing in the shed and that's when I raised the alarm and neighbours came out and a manhunt started. The cow was already loaded in the lorry and when residents stopped the lorry near river Mathioya, they discovered four cows including mine being ferried to an unspecified destination,” observed Wanjiku.

 One of the villagers, Muraya wa Gatu said they have been spending sleepless nights to protect their properties and livestock from being stolen.

“We had been keeping vigil at night because of rampant insecurity and theft of livestock in Kandundu, Kabuta and Gakonya areas. We have suffered for long but today it was the 40th day of the two,” remarked Gatu

He urged police to establish a police post in between the fast growing villages for quick response when residents raise an alarm.

Francis Manyeki, Chairman of a local slaughterhouse noted that there have been rampant thefts of livestock in parts of Murang’a saying they had already lost 14 cows after thieves raided their slaughter house.

“It is true residents have been losing their animals to the rustlers, we are victims also as we lost eight cows, we cannot entirely blame the police as they were trying to bring the culprits to book,” He said.

Confirming the incident, Murang’a East sub-county police commander Mary Wakuu said they have started investigations to identity of the two who were lynched.

“We will start by getting particulars of the burnt lorry as we want to identify the owner and who was driving it. I would also ask the residents of this area to volunteer information that will help us get the criminals, as I am sure no criminal can just come from nowhere to steal in an area he has no idea about, it means there is some bad apple among them working with the thieves so I would urge them that we collaborate and work together.” Stated Wakuu. 

The remains of the suspects were taken to Murang’a County mortuary as residents vowed to continue hunting down those behind the increased theft of their livestock.

Courtesy ; K. N. A