By Ongaga Ongaga
Five men suspected of abducting a farmer in Muhoroni, Kisumu County, were lynched by members of the public after a dramatic chase involving boda boda operators.
The incident began at around 11 a.m. on Monday, when Richard Bala, the treasurer of Mashambani Farmers Cooperative Society, withdrew Sh1.1 million from the Kenya Commercial Bank branch in Muhoroni.
According to police, Bala was accosted within Muhoroni shopping centre and forcibly bundled into a white Toyota Premio bearing registration number KDW 721H by five men.
Witnesses said the vehicle sped off towards West Valley Sugar Factory in Koitaburot location, Soin Sub-county.
Alerted boda boda operators gave chase, mobilising members of the public.
The vehicle was eventually intercepted at Kejiryet area, where an enraged mob descended on the occupants and lynched all five suspects.
Police officers who responded to the scene reported an accidental firearm discharge during efforts to contain the situation.
In the ensuing chaos, a woman identified as Irine Chepkemoi sustained injuries to her left breast after being struck by debris believed to have ricocheted from stones thrown by the crowd.
Chepkemoi was rushed to Kericho Referral Hospital, where she was treated and confirmed to be in stable condition.
Medical examinations indicated the injuries were caused by stone debris rather than a bullet.
A search of the scene yielded several items, including a toy pistol resembling a revolver, multiple vehicle number plates, a pocket phone, bank-related plates, a pair of handcuffs bearing serial number KE-KP 2055, and an official card belonging to a police corporal identified as Jayson Kamau.
The bodies of the five men were transferred to Kericho Referral Hospital mortuary, pending post-mortem examinations and formal identification.
Sources say it is suspected that all five suspects may have been police officers, though this has not yet been confirmed.
It is not clear if the stolen Sh1.1 million was recovered, and if the owner was injured.
The scene was documented and photographed by crime scene personnel from Soin/Sigowet Sub-county.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Soin/Sigowet have taken over the case, which remains under active investigation.
Police said a progress report will be issued once more details are established.