Police Launch Investigation After 3 Men Were Beaten And Burned After Football Night Out

Police launch investigation after three young men who had reportedly gone to watch the UEFA Champions League final in Machakos town were allegedly beaten and burned alive by a mob after being mistaken for thieves.

The victims, identified as Kennedy Modongo, Stanley Modongo, and their friend Charles Mutiso, died after suffering severe burns and injuries during the incident that occurred in the early hours of Sunday, May 31.

According to the police, the three were heading home at around 2 a.m. after watching the football match when an altercation reportedly broke out after Charles Mutiso was hit by a vehicle.

Police say the driver, identified as Christopher Mwenda Robert, allegedly raised an alarm accusing the trio of being thieves, attracting a crowd of boda boda riders and members of the public.

3 Men Burned And Beaten

The situation escalated quickly with the three men reportedly being attacked, beaten and later set on fire.

Post-mortem examinations showed that the victims sustained extensive burns estimated at between 90% and 95% alongside multiple injuries concentrated on the upper parts of their bodies.

Also Read: Panic at Bungoma High as Students Ordered Out of School at Night

Their bodies were later taken to Machakos Level 5 Hospital mortuary, where they were initially recorded as unidentified persons before their families traced them several days later.

The families of the deceased have dismissed claims that the three were criminals, describing them as well-known young men from the area.

Suspect Detained

Relatives said the victims had grown up together in Machakos and were simply returning home after watching the football match.

Appearing before a Machakos court, the main suspect was detained for 21 days to allow police to complete investigations into the killings.

Prosecutors told the court they require more time to retrieve CCTV footage from nearby shops, record witness statements and gather additional evidence.

CCTV Footage Being Reviewed

Machakos County Criminal Investigations Officer Kasim Barisa confirmed that detectives are reviewing surveillance footage as part of the ongoing investigations.

Also Read: How Police Recovered 12 Stolen Cows in Bungoma Operation After Public Tip-Off

Meanwhile, leaders from the boda boda sector in Machakos have condemned the killings and pledged to cooperate with investigators.

Lawyer Musio Kamutavo and the family members have also appealed to witnesses with information about the incident to come forward to help ensure the victims get justice.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news update

A picture of a crime scene tape
PHOTO/Standard