Angry villagers lynch ex-convict caught stealing in Tharaka-Nithi County
Villagers view the body of a suspect who was lynched at Shauri market in Tharaka-Nithi County on June 28, 2016. The man, who left prison recently was accused of breaking into a shop on Monday night and stealing. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The residents of Giceuni Village in Tharaka-Nithi County burnt Geoffrey Murimi, 30, to death at Gatithini market on Tuesday.
- The suspect said they usually hide the stolen items inside Meru National Park and later sell them to shopkeepers in other markets.
- He asked for forgiveness but the angry mob went ahead and poured petrol on him and set him on fire.
- Police took the body to Meru General Hospital mortuary.
A former convict blamed his parents for failing to take him to school, making him resort to stealing.
He said this shortly before he was lynched by angry villagers after he was caught stealing from a shop.
The residents of Giceuni Village in Tharaka-Nithi County burnt Geoffrey Murimi, 30, to death at Gatithini market on Tuesday.
The suspect was apprehended by the mob for allegedly breaking into a shop at Shauri market on Monday night and stealing two bags of green grams, a solar panel and 20 litres of petrol.
After the mob threatened to set him on fire, he confessed that that he stole the items in the company of two others.
“He admitted to be the leader of a gang that has been stealing in the neighbouring Gatithini, Shauri and Kathangacini markets armed with a gun and other crude weapons,” said Mary Makena, a resident.
HID STOLEN ITEMS IN MERU PARK
The suspect said the gang members usually hide the stolen items inside Meru National Park and later sell them to shopkeepers in other markets.
Before he was lynched, Murimi blamed his parents for his predicament, saying he became a thief after they refused to take him to school
He asked for forgiveness but the angry mob went ahead and poured petrol on him and set him on fire, said John Mutwiri, a resident.
The deceased was recently released from prison after serving a four-year jail term on a conviction of being in possession of an illegal gun that he used to terrorise residents.
Police took the body to the Meru General Hospital mortuary.
Residents vowed to hunt down the other two suspects.
