A middle-aged man was lynched on Wednesday morning by angry residents after a failed attempt to rob a woman in Webuye town. According to an eyewitness at the scene of the crime, the suspect, who was armed with a crude weapon, attacked the woman but she screamed and drew the attention of residents who attacked the man.
Initially, the robber almost escaped but he couldn’t run fast because of the injuries he had sustained and he decided to hide in a culvert.
The angry residents, led by boda boda riders pulled him out and burned him beyond recognition, using petrol and tyres.
“We’ve heard complaints about this young man who we believe comes from Mt. Elgon Sub County but he used to wash cars here in town. Many incidents have been linked to him, including the recent killing of three guards at Sango petrol station,” said an eyewitness.
He blamed the police sluggishness when it comes to responding to such cases within the town, considering the fact that the attempted robbery happened within the town where the police station is situated.
The residents have called on police IG Joseph Boinnet to transfer lazy police officers and those who’ve been stationed in the town for long and urged him to bring in other officers who are ready to work and restore security to the area.
“He must move with haste and transfer all the officers who have overstayed in Webuye police station and other stations within Bungoma East district because we believe that they may be working with criminals,” lamented angry residents.
Talking to West Media, one resident warned the youths who are relocating to Webuye and have no job and identity cards to be careful when it comes to gangs.
“We shall deal with criminals if police have failed in their core duty of protecting the lives of residents and their property,” he added. The residents blocked the Webuye-Malaba road, protesting the insecurity in the area.
