Suspected Boda Boda Thief Set on a Blaze in Mlolongo

The accused Motorbike thief was murdered on Thursday night at Katani shopping centre in Mlolongo, Machakos county.

The unidentified man was killed by a hungry crowd that caught up with him at 8.30 pm, after a failed attempt to steal a motorbike in the area. His body was burned down.

Assistant county commissioner Dennis Ongaga said the deceased part of a gang suspected to be behind a spate of killings and motorbikes theft in Mlolongo, Syokimau, Katani, and Joska.

"A boda boda thief suspects yet to be identified and said to operate from Ruiru has been lynched by members of the public at Katani market. The OCS Mlolongo police station has been notified," Ongaga reported on Thursday.

The incident took place scarcely 24 hours after a disappeared boda boda rider was found dead in Mlolongo. His motorbike was pinched.

The body of a 22-year-old Paul Micheka Omari was discovered by a herder dumped a few meters from Katani Hospital and it is suspected that his killers stole his new motorbike. 

“The body appears to have been eaten by hyenas,” Ongaga said. The body was taken to City Mortuary.

Earlier, the bodies of Benard Makavi Munyao and Ezekiel Gaga Nyaole in Syokimau.

Police investigations show that Munyao was killed on May 18. Nyaole's motorcycle was stolen by his killers.

The administrator said they will strengthen the Nyumba Kumi initiative and increase police patrols in Mlolongo and its environs.

“We urge boda boda operators to be vigilant and not to operate during curfew hours,” Ongaga said.

Boda boda operators from Mlolongo, Syokimau, and Katani have threatened to hold demonstrations to protest against the killings.