Lugari police commander Bernard Ngungu has raised a red flag over increased cases of mob justice in the sub county.
Ngungu, who was speaking at Panpaper area in Marakusi location, condemned the recent spike in such incidents across the sub county, terming perpetrators criminals.
He said it is an offense for members of the public to take thelaw into their own hands by killing others on mere suspicion.
The police commander admonished perpetrators saying suspects should be handed over to the police instead of being lynched.
‘Mob lynching is criminal. There is no law that allows a person to kill another. As per our Kenyan constitution each person has a right to life and no one is allowed to take that life other than through natural death or through the justice system.
We are appealing to members of the public to always surrender suspects to the police once they apprehend them or call the police to come and pick them,’ he said
He cited the recent incidents in Mbagara sub location where suspects were picked f
rom their homesteads and some from the farms and lynched on the basis of mere allegations.
‘You take the law into your hands and kill other people like animals. Recently you killed two individuals in Mbagara. That was shameless and criminal.
The two had stolen nothing and neither did you find them with stolen property,’ Ngungu recounted adding that the act is unacceptable.
Ngungu said once a suspect has been apprehended members of the public should let them face trial in the courts of law while their role will be providing concrete evidence.
He cautioned members of the public that henceforth the police will not hesitate to take action against those involved.
‘Those individuals you are lynching have a right to life. Those who have been involved in the vice we are coming for you,’ he warned.
He disclosed that he has instructed Turbo Officer Commanding Station to arrest and prefer charges against all those involved in the Mbagara incident where some victims of the mob injustice are still nursing injuries i
n hospital.
On the sub county’s general security, Ngungu reminded residents that they play a pivotal role in ensuring their own security.
He said police officers cannot be in every homestead but rather residents should collaborate with them by sharing information all the time.
Source: Kenya News Agency