The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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An escalation of tensions occurred in Nyandarua on Saturday night as enraged residents descended upon the Githabai Police Station in Kinangop Constituency, seizing a criminal suspect from police custody and subsequently stoning him to death. This dramatic turn of events unfolded as overwhelmed law enforcement officers looked on.
The suspect, apprehended for suspected involvement in livestock theft, reportedly divulged crucial information implicating other suspects, including certain police officers, allegedly complicit in criminal activities within the constituency.
Of particular significance was the suspect’s revelation regarding the use of a police vehicle to transport stolen livestock and meat, a revelation that shed light on the mystery surrounding the disappearance of over 300 dairy cows since December of the previous year.
The irate residents, numbering in the hundreds, overwhelmed police stationed at Githabai Police Station, causing damage to property and the neighboring office of the Assistant County Commissioner. Additionally, they obstructed roads, demanding the arrest of police officers allegedly involved in livestock theft, with accusations surfacing that some officers own businesses in the area, including butcheries and bars.
During the chaotic incident that unfolded around 10 p.m., police officers, faced with a defiant crowd, resorted to closing the station gates and issuing threats. However, the determined residents breached the gates, forcibly removed the suspect from custody, and subjected him to a fatal assault with stones and crude weapons.
The suspect, identified as John Kariuki from Gwa Kairu Village, had been apprehended by community members earlier on Saturday following a theft incident. Despite efforts by local youths, under the guidance of village elders, to track down stolen livestock and aid in the suspect’s arrest, the situation escalated when police intervened to take the suspect into custody.
Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa characterized the incident as regrettable, affirming that an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances that led to the mob’s actions. He confirmed previous arrests in connection with ongoing livestock theft cases and announced plans for a county security team to convene in Kinangop Constituency next Tuesday to address the persistent thefts.
The body of the deceased suspect has been transported to the Nyayo Ward Hospital Mortuary as investigations continue.
