A suspected thief has allegedly died by suicide in Mwala, Machakos County.
Peter Muuswii, 37, is said to have ended his own life inside a photo studio in Wamunyu, Mwala subcounty where he had been locked after public arrest on Wednesday.
Mwala subcounty police commander Nancy Jerebon said the incident was reported at the Wamunyu police patrol base.
"It was reported by Jeremiah Mutuku Musau, 47, of Freelance photo studio Wamunyu that he noted his customers' phones of Huwai and Redme all valued at Sh36, 000 which were being charged at the studio were missing," Jerebon told the Star by phone on Wednesday.
"Having reviewed his CCTV camera, he identified one Peter Muuswii aged 37 years being responsible for the theft."
The police boss said it was at that point that, with the help of members of the public, Musau traced the suspect and placed him inside the studio as they rushed to Wamunyu police patrol base for assistance.
"Police officers from Wamunyu police patrol base rushed to the scene, where they found the inner room of the studio locked from inside. They accessed the room by breaking the door and found the victim hanging by a sisal rope from roof rafters," Jerebon said.
Jerebon said crime scene officers processed the scene before the body was removed to Machakos Funeral Home, awaiting an autopsy.
She said the officers also reviewed the CCTV footage. The body had no visible injuries apart from the rope ligature around the neck.
Mwala subcounty DCI detectives have launched a probe into the incident.
