Man found dead in Murang’a as mob lynching, land dispute killings surge
Detectives are investigating the death of a 36-year-old man in Kandara Sub-County in what police suspect to be a case of mob justice.
The deceased, identified as Patrick Wairuga Maina, was found dead in his house shortly after midnight on April 13, 2026.
Police who visited the scene established that he had sustained deep cut wounds on both legs, believed to have been inflicted using a panga.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Maina may have been attacked by people known to him after he was allegedly caught stealing avocados.
Police findings show the injured man was later transported home on a motorcycle, where he was received by his sister and taken into his house. He was subsequently found dead.
Investigators processed and documented the scene before moving the body to Githumu AIC Mission Hospital mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination to establish the exact cause of death.
Police noted that cases of mob lynching have been on the rise across the country, despite ongoing efforts to curb the trend.
Authorities have warned that mob justice remains a criminal act, adding that some victims are often wrongly accused or targeted over disputes such as land conflicts.
In a separate incident in Kabras East Sub-County, a 44-year-old man died days after allegedly being assaulted by his stepbrother in a dispute over land boundaries.
The victim, identified as Patrick Daniel Peter, is reported to have been attacked on April 8. The incident was reported at Matsakha Police Station, and he initially sought treatment at a local hospital before being discharged.
However, his condition later worsened while at home, leading to his death on April 12. His body was moved to Chimoi Hospital Mortuary pending a post-mortem.
Police who visited the mortuary confirmed the incident and said the case is being treated as suspected murder linked to a land dispute, with investigations ongoing.
