A theft suspect was on Monday morning cornered after allegedly stealing a television set at Thorobea village in Gatundu South, Kiambu County.
The suspect was beaten up by the angry mob who arrested him after he tried to run away when he was asked what he was carrying.
According to Mutati Location Chief Fidelis Wanja, the suspect had dumped the television set inside a bush and camouflaged to be a passerby but a local had seen him carrying the stolen item from a distance.
When he was confronted, he is said to have fled into a nearby farm but irked locals ganged up to search for him.
The mob got hold of the suspect inside one of the farms and landed on him with kicks, blows and all manner of beatings.
“The young man has been beaten but he is not dead. He had stolen a television set but he denied the claims. I don’t know whether he will survive in his current state,” the Chief said.
Wanja said that the suspect is not known by locals and is reported to be from another part of the country.
“Locals don’t know him but we will establish his identity with time,” Wanja added.
The incident happened as theft cases continue to rise in various parts of Gatundu North and South constituencies with locals blaming local authorities for doing less to contain the situation.
