This archive report was first published on 12 September 2021.
On Thursday, residents of Kakrao village in Migori County took the law into their own hands, burning down the homes of three robbery suspects. The suspects, who were also accused of violence, had been raiding shops and churches in Migori town.
According to Charles Lokoye, the Kakrao Boda Boda chairman, the suspects had been involved in a series of crimes in the area. Lokoye urged the police and judicial system not to release the suspects on bond, citing ongoing tension in the community.
Migori county police commander Mark Wanjala assured residents that police patrols had been increased in the area to prevent further violence. Wanjala also stated that police were investigating not only the recent shop break-in but also three murders in the area.
On June 1, two bodies were discovered in the area, including that of a woman found in a swamp. The body of Kevin Owuor, a teacher, was found near his home. Residents expressed shock and fear after CCTV footage revealed that their neighbors were involved in theft.
Police had previously intervened to rescue one of the suspects from an angry mob that had descended on him with crude weapons. The five suspects were arraigned before a Senior Principal Magistrate's Court in Migori on Thursday.
The prosecution, led by investigative officer Peter Makemba, requested seven days to complete investigations and apprehend more suspects connected to the robberies. The suspects will appear in court on September 15.
