A Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer who was trailing suspected contraband sugar was on Saturday lynched by an angry mob as his two colleagues escaped with injuries.
The officers had descended on a shop in Kinondo village, Kwale County in pursuit of suspected contraband sugar when members of public turned against them on suspicion of being robbers.
Reports from Kwale County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo indicate that the mob attacked the officers who were on official duty using crude weapons killing the victim on the spot.
[caption caption="Kwale County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo"]
[/caption]
His colleagues and a taxi driver, however, managed to escape from the scene at Tawakal shop sustaining minor injuries in the fracas.
Locals alleged that the officers attached to Msambweni DCI seemed suspicious after they failed to introduce and identify themselves prompting the angry reaction.
The County Commissioner has indicated that the police have launched investigations into the matter and a manhunt for the perpetrators of the crime is ongoing.
Ngumo further condemned the killing of the officer and warned members of the public against taking the law into their hands.
The Commissioner also promised that those involved in the killing of the DCI officer will be severely punished in accordance with the law.
Cases of police officers being killed in unclear circumstances although not frequent have been reported in different parts of the country in the past.
At times, the suspects turn towards members of the public for protection such as on July 22, 2017 when traffic police nabbed soliciting bribes at Witeithie Bridge, Juja, tried to turn heat against the EACC officials apprehending them.
[caption caption="Traffic police officers at a road block"]
[/caption]
The traffic cops who were facing arrest called for reinforcement from their colleagues and tried inciting the mob in a bid to escape the law forcing the EACC officials to fire shots in the air.
