By Mulembe Times | July 19, 2025
Kirinyaga County, Kenya – Two young men were brutally lynched by an angry mob in Thiba Village, Mwea West Sub-county on Thursday evening, in what authorities are calling a tragic case of mob justice.
The victims, identified as Brian Kihara (21) and Benson Wanjohi (22), were suspected of being part of a five-member gang allegedly behind a series of recent shop break-ins and thefts in Thiba and its surrounding areas. The incident, which unfolded at around 4 p.m., has sparked public outrage and renewed debate over the rise in crime and apparent law enforcement failures in the region.
According to eyewitnesses and residents, tensions had been building for weeks due to a string of burglaries targeting small retail businesses, with residents growing increasingly frustrated by what they termed as “police inaction.” On Thursday, the situation reached a boiling point.
A group of residents reportedly tracked down the two suspects at Diambo Estate in Ngurubani Town. They were forcibly removed from a residential house and taken to the Thiba North football grounds, located along the busy Mwea–Embu Highway. There, before a large and agitated crowd, the two young men were allegedly questioned by locals about their involvement in recent thefts — and then doused in a flammable substance and set on fire.
“We have reported these cases repeatedly, but no one listens,” said one resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We are tired of being terrorized every night while those responsible walk free. Today we had to act.”
Over 100 villagers are said to have gathered at the scene, and some even warned police officers and journalists not to interfere or take pictures. No attempt was made by the crowd to alert authorities before or during the execution of the mob justice.
Confirming the tragic incident, Thiba Location Chief Leah Wamutira condemned the killings and urged the community to remain calm and respect the law.
“This is a tragic example of the dangers of mob justice. No one has the right to take another person’s life, regardless of the suspicion,” Chief Wamutira said. “We urge the public to report criminal activity to law enforcement rather than resorting to such extreme measures.”
She further confirmed the identities of the two deceased and noted that investigations into the incident were already underway.
Police in Mwea West Sub-county have launched a probe into the circumstances leading to the lynching. Authorities are looking into who instigated the violence, the source of the accusations, and how the mob managed to organize so quickly and carry out such a brutal act in broad daylight.
The bodies of Kihara and Wanjohi were transported to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital Mortuary, where postmortems are scheduled to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Community leaders and human rights organizations have since expressed concern over the rising trend of mob justice across the country, especially in areas where residents feel neglected by security forces. This latest case has raised difficult questions about the balance between justice, public safety, and the rule of law.
“While the frustrations of residents are understandable, no society can thrive where vigilante actions replace due process,” said a statement from Haki Africa, a human rights watchdog based in Mombasa. “We call on the police to bring to book not only the criminals, but also those who took part in this unlawful killing.”
As investigations continue, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by both rising insecurity and the erosion of public trust in law enforcement institutions.
