NYAHURURU, Kenya, Oct 12 – A middle-aged man has been sentenced to hang by a Nyahururu court after he was found guilty of violently stealing Sh200 and a mobile phone.
Nyahururu Senior Resident Magistrate Timothy Kariuki said the mob that arrested Francis Njuguna, caught him red-handed as he beat Raphael Muturi with a sharp machete. The mob rescued the victim and recovered the weapon from the accused.
Mr Muturi’s son Clement Mwangi had heard him screaming for help when he mobilized people to rescue his father.
“These people did not know him (the accused) and there is no way they would have framed up such accusations against him,” said the magistrate.
The court heard that the mob descended on Mr Kariuki with blows and kicks moments before police officers saved him from the wrath of the irate members of the public as they prepared to lynch him.
The offence was committed at Ngaindeithia village, Kireita location in Nyandarua North District on March 28.
The court had heard that the complainant was going home after work when he was accosted by the accused while in company of other robbers not before court. The accomplices escaped when they heard the mob approaching.
The prosecuting officer Chief Inspector John Ruto said Mr Kariuki was a known criminal and a bully who has been terrorising residents of Ngaindeithia village. He also said the rate of theft is high in the area and stern measures needed to be taken to change the situation.
The magistrate said that the evidence adduced by the prosecution was unshaken noting that the accused needed a tough judgment to deter other would be offenders.
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