A tense situation unfolded in Tinderet, Nandi County, on Thursday January 2, 2025 as thousands of furious locals descended upon the Chemase Police Post. 

The angry residents broke into the police station, liberated a murder suspect, and stoned him to death before setting his body on fire.

The suspect, named Victor Kimutai, 30, was in custody for the gruesome murder of a 38-year-old man whose dismembered remains had been discovered. 

According to Tinderet Police Commander Johnson Mwariga, Kimutai confessed to the crime and even guided investigators to where he had concealed the victim’s head and other body parts.

The developments angered approximately 3,000 local residents, who demanded that the police hand over the suspect. 

When law enforcement refused to comply, the mob went on a rampage, destroying a police vehicle, overpowering officers, and breaking into the holding cells to confront Kimutai. 

“After rescuing the suspect, they stoned him to death and burned his body before scattering in different directions,” read part of a police report.

In response to these events, the National Police Service (NPS) condemned the actions, urging citizens to avoid taking matters into their own hands and to trust the legal system to handle arrested individuals. 

NPS Spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango stated, “We are calling on the public to refrain from vigilantism and allow the legal process to unfold. 

“The destruction of police property, as witnessed at the Chemase Police Post, only hinders police effectiveness in delivering essential services to the community. We encourage collaboration with law enforcement to improve security in our neighborhoods.”