Hundreds of Boda Boda riders on Thursday night, March 11, stormed Karatina Hospital, dragged three patients outside the health facility and killed two of them as police officers watched helplessly.
The riders accused the trio of being involved in a spate of criminal activities that saw six boda boda members die and their motorbikes stolen.
The riders are said to have overpowered the security manning the hospital as well as police officers who were guarding the patients. They had earlier been rescued from the irate riders who wanted to lynch them.
The mob are said to have beaten the duo to death and later set their bodies ablaze as police officers watched in dismay.
"They managed to do this unlawful act after overpowering our officers. However, we have managed to save one of the suspects who is currently being treated,” Mathira East Police Boss James Barasa told K24 Digital.
Earlier in the day, the riders are said to have cornered the trio and started beating them up but they were rescued by officers who dispersed the riders and took them to the hospital.
The riders went to the suspect's houses and torched them before going to the hospital to flush them out.
A similar incident took place in Kirinyaga County in October 2020, after 300 riders stormed a hospital and lynched one person.
The victim had also been saved earlier that day from boda boda riders.
In January, the National Police Service vowed to crack down on boda boda riders for taking the law in their hands.
Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai said that the National police had received numerous complaints where boda boda riders had assaulted civilians and in some cases, burnt their vehicles.
"I caution all boda boda riders and operators against uncouth and uncivilised manner of addressing issues," reads an excerpt of the statement.
"All police officers have been directed to be on the lookout to take the necessary lawful action against any boda boda rider found to be taking the law into their own hands," he added.
