Five suspected gangsters have been killed by mobs in separate incidents in Ahero Town, Nyando Sub-County, in the past two days.

The clashes started on Friday April 4 when boda-boda operators regrouped to fight back against the Chude Chude gang after they allegedly attacked and seriously injured one of them.

After day-long manhunt, three suspects were cornered and reportedly killed by the enraged mob.

Nyando Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Elijah Maranga confirmed the occurrence during a press briefing on Tuesday. The Chude Chude gang is among the organised gangs linked to a violent crime wave that has hit Ahero and surrounding neighbourhoods.

“The first incident happened when a boda boda rider was attacked in the wee hours of Friday and sustained serious injuries. Following that incident his colleagues who had some names in mind of suspected criminals hat have been terrorising residents, regrouped launched manhunt for the offenders,” Maranga said.

He added, “They fished out three of the gang members from their homes in Kochogo North Sub-Location in Nyando Sub-county and killed them.”

In the second incident, the DCC who also chairs the Sub-County Security and Intelligence Committee said that another suspect perceived to be a member of the same gang was later cornered and murdered by a mob around Ahero Total Petrol Station.

On Monday another man believed to be the leader of the same Chude Chude gang was allegedly killed by riders. The victim is said to have killed one of the riders during the incident.

“Upon locating and cornering the gang leader, they subjected him to a thorough beating, during which he allegedly killed one of the riders,” Maranga said.

The DCC condemned the attacks, warning that acts of mob justice undermine the rule of law. He stressed that taking the law into one’s own hands is against the law urging community members to allow law enforcers to carry out investigations.

“The DCI are actively investigating the matter to identify the individuals involved in the mob killings because it is against the law to subject a person to mob justice,” Maranga said.

He said security officers have also intensified patrols in the area both at day time and night to help in addressing the escalating cases of mob violence in the area.

Maranga urged members of the public with any useful information to come forward and share it with security agencies to aid in the arrest of the suspects. He also called on residents to remain calm and allow security officers sufficient time to conduct thorough investigations.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Robert Ojwang’