Boda boda riders on revenge mission
A motorcycle belonging to one of the suspects is torched in Karatina town on Thursday.
Boda boda riders in Mathira, Nyeri County, have vowed to eliminate a murderous gang operating in the area.
Two suspected gang members were lynched by the irate cyclists on Thursday evening inside the Karatina Sub-County Hospital.
A third, who survived the attack, is now under round-the-clock police guard at the hospital.
The two suspects were identified as Robert Nderitu, 28, and James Wahome, 29.
The lynching happened as police officers watched helplessly from a distance.
The cyclists said this was just the beginning. “We are not done. We know there are more out there and this is a warning. We are coming for you,” a rider who sought anonymity due to safety concerns said.
The lynching comes in the wake of increased violent robberies targeting boda boda riders.
Three suspects
The riders say in three months, six people have been killed by the gang.
Earlier this week, the operators opted to take matters into their hands. They tracked down four of the suspects to a hideout in Kirimara and attacked them.
One managed to slip away, leaving behind his colleagues at the mercy of the riders.
“Police were notified of the attack and intervened. The three suspects, who were badly beaten, were rescued and rushed to hospital,” Mathira East police boss James Barasa said.
However, the riders quickly regrouped and attacked the men.
They also torched their homes and a motorcycle they believe was used in the robberies before converging at the Karatina hospital for a final assault.
Two guards, who had just reported for night shift, were held hostage by the mob as they charged into the casualty wing where police officers had just wheeled in the three badly wounded suspects.
Although armed with guns, the two officers were no match for angry mob.
Complex situation
“This was a complex situation because the officers were outnumbered and being inside a hospital, the officers could not use force,” Mr Barasa said.
The riders dragged two of the suspects out of the casualty wing as medics and patients watched in horror. Hands, feet, helmets, stones and anything that could inflict pain became a weapon.
The riders interrogated the suspects, getting names and hideouts of their accomplices. The two were then set on fire.
Police officers fired into the air in a desperate bid to disperse the mob in vain.
The third suspect escaped with serious injuries after being rescued by police and hospital staff. He has been placed in protective custody.
“We have been trying to work with security agencies but we do not see results. What happened yesterday [Thursday] was out of anger and frustration,” Mathira Boda Boda Association chair Benjamin Mwangi said.
