One foreign national has died and four more are nursing high degree burns at Nakuru Level Five Hospital after their house was set on fire by an angry mob.
The five, all in their 20s, were accused of rape. The victims, who lived in Mawanga Estate, were alleged to have approach the woman and sexually assaulted her in their neighbourhood on Friday night at around 10 pm.
Eyewitnesses claimed that one of the men tore the woman’s blouse and her underclothing. A passerby who came to her rescue was also reportedly assaulted, sparking further outrage.
The victims, however, claimed that the woman abused them while at a local shop and mobilised youths to attack them.
“We went to a shop where we found a young woman. She accused us of harassing her. Some locals started hurling stones at us and one of us was badly wounded,” said one of the victims.
They reportedly fled to their house where they joined their brothers and locked themselves in.
However, a mob of around 25 people reportedly followed them, broke into the house, dragged out the offender and nearly beat him to death near the gate before setting the house on fire.
One of the victims passed away on Monday, March 21 while receiving treatment at Nakuru Specialist Hospital. Another was admitted at the Nakuru Nursing Home Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while in critical condition.
A nurse attending to the other three victims at Nakuru Level Five stated that the patients were in stable condition despite incurring high-degree burns.
“They sustained burn injuries ranging from 30-60 per cent and we are trying to manage the situation,” said the nurse.
Nakuru Human Rights Network Director, David Kuria, condemned the incident terming it unacceptable and unfortunate.
“A crime is a crime and I regret what happened. I strongly condemn the arson incident and I call upon all law enforcement agencies to move swiftly to investigate the matter,” Kuria urged.
He added that the public must refrain from taking the law into their own hands, and instead hand over suspects to the police.
“Even if a suspect is caught red-handed committing a crime, such a person should be intercepted and handed over to law enforcement agencies."
