Two men were lynched in separate incidences in Nakuru County on Tuesday night for livestock theft.
In the first incident, 43-year-old Antony Cheruiyot was lynched by an enraged mob in Mau-Summit on suspicion of stealing several sheep and enclosing them on his farm.
The enraged crowd poured in at 10 p.m. and descended on him, according to police. Officers responding to the call recovered a Bereta pistol from the suspect.
Cheruiyot is thought to be a habitual criminal with a current court case at the Molo Law Courts for a similar offence after being found in possession of 11 stolen sheep on April 29. He was released on bond.
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Two hours later, in another incident, one suspect, who police could not immediately identify, was burned beyond recognition, while his accomplice escaped with life-threatening injuries.
An enraged mob converged on the pair for stealing two cows a few kilometres from the initial incident.
"After learning of the incident, police officers from Sirikwa police station rushed to the scene, only to find the charred remains of the suspect," the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said in a statement on Wednesday.
The stolen livestock was recovered and returned to its owner. The quest for the suspect who escaped is still ongoing, according to police.
