A 27-year-old man was lynched by a mob shortly after being linked to the murder of his 76-year-old grandfather in Lomut, West Pokot County.
According to police, the incident occurred on the morning of Monday, September 2, in the village. The body of Kapelinyang Kasakek was discovered in his home with severe head injuries.
The police report indicates that the body was found by his grandchildren, who had gone to check on him. The suspected assailant, who was also a grandchild of the deceased, had fled the scene, and the motive for the attack remains unclear.
The body was found in a pool of blood with injuries to the head, back, and hands, and an axe believed to be the weapon used in the attack was found beside the body. The children alerted their parents and other villagers, leading to the pursuit and subsequent stoning to death of Keti Kapel, 27, who was identified as the suspect.
Keti Kapel was discovered hiding in a locked room before being subjected to a mob lynching. Police are investigating both the murder of the grandfather and the lynching of the suspect. The bodies have been taken to Kapenguria Hospital mortuary for autopsy and further investigation.
The police are still trying to determine the motive behind the incidents that led to the mob violence. There has been a concerning increase in mob lynching incidents both in urban and rural areas. Police authorities discourage such acts and advocate for suspects to be handed over to the proper legal channels for processing and prosecution.
With up to four cases of mob lynching reported weekly, police are calling on both national and county governments to implement civic education programs to address and mitigate this growing issue.
