Families demand answers after three youths die in suspected mob attack in Machakos

Two grieving families are demanding answers and justice following the deaths of three young men who were killed in an apparent mob attack in Machakos Township under circumstances that remain under investigation.

The victims, identified as brothers Kennedy Muthungu, 29, and Stanley Muthungu, 22, alongside their friend Charles Mutiso, 25, died after an incident that occurred in the early hours of May 31.

A postmortem conducted on the bodies on Thursday established that the three died from severe burns and suffocation caused by smoke inhalation.

Charles Mutiso, one of the youth who was lynched in Machakos County on May 31, 2026.

The families have dismissed reports circulating in some sections of the media linking the deaths to an alleged attempted car theft, saying investigations are still ongoing and the circumstances surrounding the incident have not been conclusively established.

Speaking at the mortuary after the postmortem, Charles Mutiso's mother said she was struggling to come to terms with the loss of her son.

"It is unfortunate. I came with Charles from Kiambu, where I work, on Saturday evening. He left to watch football and never returned," she said.

"I know my son. He was innocent. I want justice for these boys. We need answers about what happened to them."

The visibly emotional mother said the three young men had grown up together in Machakos and were well known within the community.

"They were born here, went to school here and grew up together. Why would they be killed? As a mother, it is painful. We are bleeding as families," she said.

Relatives called on investigators to move swiftly and establish what led to the deaths.

A spokesperson for the Muthungu family described the trio as young men with promising futures whose lives had been cut short.

"We have received the postmortem report, and we trust that justice will prevail for the two families," he said.

He urged authorities to ensure those responsible are held accountable.

"Losing such young lives is traumatic for the families. We are leaving everything in God's hands, but we hope justice will be done," he added.

Police said investigations into the incident are ongoing, with detectives reviewing witness statements and CCTV footage from Machakos town as they work to establish the circumstances that led to the deaths.

The incident has once again drawn attention to cases of mob justice, which human rights groups have repeatedly condemned, urging members of the public to hand suspects over to law enforcement agencies instead of taking the law into their own hands.