A police officer attached to Litein police station in Bureti sub-county, Kericho narrowly escaped lynching from an angry mob that suspected him for being a burglar on Sunday morning.
Confirming the 6am incident, area Police Commander, Felician Nafula said the police officer attached to the Traffic Unit at the police station was rescued from the wrath of an angry mob by police officers who arrived on time at a homestead in Kimugul village where they recognised him.
She said that the cop identified as Corporal Stanley Otieno Oyulla sustained cut injuries on his knees and head after the irate villagers descended on him after the owner of a home raised alarm suspecting him for a housebreaker after he saw him walking around his compound.
The police officer was rushed to AIC mission hospital Litein where he was admitted for treatment and his condition is said to be fair, added the sub-county police boss.
In an interview the owner of the home, Mr. Geoffrey Boiyon said that at around 5am yesterday he heard footsteps outside his house and on peeping through the master bedroom window he saw a man, suspecting him to be a criminal.
“I heard footsteps outside my compound and on peeping through my master bedroom I saw a man. My family and I were scared and I raised alarm as I suspected the intruder for a housebreaker who jumped over my Kei apple fence gaining access to my homestead,” he said.
“My screams for help alerted my neighbours who rushed to my home and found the suspected burglar at my compound. I opened the door to my house and found them throwing kicks and blows on him but he escaped lynching when police officers arrived on time and rescued him when they identified him as a police officer,” said Boiyon.
Bureti sub-county police commander added that police had commenced with investigations into the incident.
“The police officer Cpl Stanley Otieno Oyulla of traffic section Litein police station was deployed to the station on 28 August from Kaptagat police station. We are yet to establish how he managed to enter the homestead and for what reasons but last evening the officer was seen around the station appearing mentally disturbed. We have commenced with investigations to this incident, ” said Nafula.
By Sarah Njagi
