A man who was caught raping a bar attendant was on Sunday hacked to death by a mob in Kirinyga County.
The suspect, Peter Mwangi, 35, was fatally attacked and burnt beyond recognition during the incident, which occurred at Kathiriku village of Mwea East Sub-County.
He is said to have broken into the rental house of the victim at around 3am and started raping her.
It was then that the attendant raised alarm forcing the suspect to flee. However, residents responding to her screams gave chase and caught up with Mr Mwangi and beat him up to death.
Witnesses said Mr Mwangi was cut up with axes and pangas as he pleaded with the mob to spare his life.
His pleas, however, fell on deaf ears as the residents continued attacking him until he succumbed to injuries.
After killing the suspect, the residents then doused his body in paraffin and set it ablaze.
“The woman who works in a bar was sleeping when the suspect forced his way into house and sexually attacked her,” said one of the witnesses.
Residents said the suspect had committed a serious crime and there was no way they would have spared him.
“We do not encourage rape in this village and those found committing the offence are taught lessons,” a villager said.
Police arrived shortly after the attack and found the body of the suspect lying on a footpath and moved it to Kerugoya Level Five hospital mortuary.