TINDERET, Kenya – Tinderet, Nandi County, was the scene of chaos on Thursday as thousands of enraged residents stormed the Chemase Police Post, freed a murder suspect, stoned him to death, and set his body ablaze.
The suspect, identified as Victor Kimutai, 30, was in custody for allegedly murdering and dismembering a 38-year-old man.
Police reported that Kimutai had confessed to the crime and led investigators to where he had hidden the victim’s severed head and other body parts.
Tensions in the community boiled over, with more than 3,000 residents gathering outside the police station demanding Kimutai’s release.
When police refused, the mob turned violent, torching a police vehicle and forcing their way into the station.
“After overpowering the officers, the crowd dragged the suspect out of the cell, stoned him to death, and burned his body before dispersing,” a police report stated.
The Tinderet Police Commander, Johnson Mwariga, confirmed the incident, describing the mob’s actions as a grim example of rising public frustration with crime and justice delays.
The National Police Service (NPS) has condemned the incident, warning against mob justice and urging the public to trust law enforcement to handle criminal cases.
“We appeal to members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands,” said NPS Spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango. “Such actions not only violate the law but also undermine police efforts to maintain order and provide security.”
Dr. Onyango also decried the destruction of police property, noting that the torching of the Chemase Police Post vehicle would impact police operations in the area.
The suspect, identified as Victor Kimutai, 30, was in custody for allegedly murdering and dismembering a 38-year-old man.
Police reported that Kimutai had confessed to the crime and led investigators to where he had hidden the victim’s severed head and other body parts.
Tensions in the community boiled over, with more than 3,000 residents gathering outside the police station demanding Kimutai’s release.
When police refused, the mob turned violent, torching a police vehicle and forcing their way into the station.
“After overpowering the officers, the crowd dragged the suspect out of the cell, stoned him to death, and burned his body before dispersing,” a police report stated.
The Tinderet Police Commander, Johnson Mwariga, confirmed the incident, describing the mob’s actions as a grim example of rising public frustration with crime and justice delays.
The National Police Service (NPS) has condemned the incident, warning against mob justice and urging the public to trust law enforcement to handle criminal cases.
“We appeal to members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands,” said NPS Spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango. “Such actions not only violate the law but also undermine police efforts to maintain order and provide security.”
Dr. Onyango also decried the destruction of police property, noting that the torching of the Chemase Police Post vehicle would impact police operations in the area.
