There was drama in Ngara, Nairobi when a group of bodaboda riders attacked and disarmed a gunman in a botched robbery.
After they had disarmed the suspect, they lynched him, saying he and his accomplices were spoiling their business, police said.
This is despite the move by the gunman to shoot into the air to scare the riders as a warning that what he was carrying was real and not a toy.
The gunman was part of a gang that had been attacking and robbing pedestrians along Kolobot- Wangari Maathai Road junction on Saturday evening.
The attackers were riding on a motorcycle and could stop and target pedestrians at gunpoint for cash and valuables before escaping.
According to police, a group of bodaboda riders in the area were informed of the incidents and spotted the rider and a pillion before a chase ensued.
They caught up with the men a few meters ahead before a female pedestrian arrived there and announced the men had earlier attacked her and took her mobile phone.
According to Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei, it was then that one of the gunmen drew the Czeska pistol and shot in the air to scare the riders.
One of the riders managed to grab the pistol from the gunman forcing them to abandon their motorcycle and tried to escape on foot.
Bungei said the other riders chased and caught up with one of the riders and beat him to death.
Police arrived at the scene moments later and recovered the pistol with 12 bullets and the motorcycle the men were using.
One of the suspects was arrested.
Police said they are investigating the incident.
“We discourage mob lynching and it is better for suspects to be handed to police for processing,” he said.
Cases of mob lynching of suspects have been on the rise in the country. Police say they receive up to five cases a week, which they term as alarming.