A suspected motorcycle thief narrowly escaped death after he was allegedly caught trying to flee with a motorcycle in Kagio town, Kirinyaga County.
The incident happened at around 8:30 p.m. when residents reportedly spotted the suspect with the motorcycle and raised the alarm.
According to witnesses, the man had already taken the motorcycle and was attempting to escape when he was cornered by an angry crowd.
As tempers flared, the suspect reportedly told residents that he had mistaken the motorcycle for his own.
His explanation did little to calm the crowd, with residents dismissing his claim and insisting that he did not own a motorcycle.
“We suspect he was employed in Kagio town to sell clothes. Now he is telling us he has a motorcycle, no,” said resident Peter Mwangi.
The situation quickly turned violent, with the suspect being beaten and pelted with stones.
Women at the scene were heard pleading with the crowd to stop the assault as the man lay helpless.
Police officers from Kagio Police Station arrived shortly afterwards and rescued the suspect before taking him to the police station.
The incident has renewed concerns among local motorcycle operators over what they describe as a sharp rise in motorcycle theft in the area.
Kagio boda boda chairman Maina Mutugi said thieves were becoming increasingly daring, targeting motorcycles in a variety of places.
He said one of their colleagues recently lost his motorcycle after parking it before entering a rented house.
“It is now serious. They are stealing motorcycles in churches, shops, homes, and even when riders have stopped to answer a call of nature,” said Maina.
Police have warned residents against taking the law into their own hands, urging them to report suspected theft and provide information that could help officers investigate and arrest suspects.
The suspect is expected to assist police with investigations as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft.
