Four suspected rustlers were lynched by members of the public and their truck burnt down as one of them escaped with gunshot wounds in Kitengela on Friday, morning.
The suspects, according to the owner of the cows, Kunini Ole Mwenda, broke into his Manyatta in the morning of Friday and drove off nine cows and a bull.
“After the suspects had driven off the herd, my dogs continuously barked and my sons went to check and found the cows missing. They immediately raised an alarm and the rustlers were pursued,” said Mwenda.
Mwenda said the theft occurred at his home in Korrompoi area of Kaputiei North Ward and the cows were driven towards Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Athi River.
He said the rustlers were intercepted by irate Morans and other villagers from Korrompoi at 4.30am as they drove off the cows already loaded in the truck, before the shooting begun as the suspects escaped for safety leaving the stolen cows behind.
The Isinya OCPD, Kinyua Mugambi confirmed the incident and said the four suspects were confirmed dead on arrival to hospital.
“We picked them and rushed them to hospital but on arrival doctors confirmed they were dead. However, one suspect escaped with injuries,” said Mugambi.
Eye witnesses said some of the villagers were armed with licensed guns and that there was no resistance from the rustlers as they were being engaged in the shooting.
Two weeks ago, Kitengela OCS, Renson Gambo swore in public that he will personally handle thuggery and rustling that has caused mayhem among pastoralists in Korrompoi.
Although he was not involved in the recovery of the stolen livestock, Gambo had complained more than 200 cows and 3, 000 sheep had been reportedly stolen in Korrompoi in the past five months.
By Janet Rop
