The Kericho Incident and What It Reveals About Society, Law, and Justice

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Context

Police have launched a probe into the killing of five people suspected of stealing in Muhoroni town. The suspects were lynched by an angry crowd in Kericho County after being accused of stealing KShs 1.2 million from the KCB Muhoroni Branch. Soin sub-county police commander, Mr. Lawrence Kisini, confirmed the death and that a police investigation into the incident has been launched. Eyewitnesses say word of the theft spread quickly, leading to a crowd mobilizing to intercept the alleged criminals.

Before the police could take control of the situation, the mob caught up with the suspects and lynched them, an act that ended in their death. While addressing the residents, the Soin police boss emphasized that vigilantism is unlawful, regardless of the alleged crimes committed by the deceased. Kisini also appealed to the public to allow law enforcement to handle criminal suspects through established legal channels.

Why does mob justice happen in Kenya?

A quiet day in Kericho County saw a shocking incident thrust the issue of mob justice back into the national conversation. After the killing of the five men suspected of theft in a bank in Muhoroni, Kisumu County, deeper questions arise about why mob justice happens, what it says about public trust in institutions, and how Kenya can address this challenge.

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Mob justice, often called "instant justice," is when a group of people bypasses the legal process to punish someone they believe has committed a crime. Several factors contribute to its occurrence in Kenya and many parts of the world:

Frustration with crime and perceived inaction

Many communities feel that crimes are increasing but that police response is slow, investigations drag, and suspects are released without significant consequences. This frustration often fuels the belief that taking matters into their own hands is the only and best way to protect the community.

Group Psychology

This can also be termed as social pressure, and it is a situation where, in a highly charged situation, emotions spread quickly, making people in a crowd act in ways they wouldn't individually do. This action is usually driven by anger and the belief that they are doing the right thing.

Perceived Lack of Truth in the Justice System

When citizens feel that the courts are slow or corrupt, they end up losing faith in the idea that justice will be served fairly. Mob justice, therefore, becomes a misguided alternative.

Why Mob Justice is Still a Problem

Even when the intentions of a crowd seem to be protecting the community, mob justice carries with it serious consequences:

Innocent people Can be Harmed

In many cases, mobs form based on unverified information or rumors, without formal channels to separate facts from speculation. Without proper investigation, innocent people can be punished or killed. The legal system, imperfect as it might be, is designed to protect against this by requiring evidence and due process.

Undermines Rule of Law

Respect for the rule of law weakens when people take justice into their own hands. This can then make long-term stability and fairness harder to achieve.

The law enforcement officers have always insisted that in such circumstances, suspects should be formally arrested through legal procedures, evidence collected and evaluated, and the courts should determine if the suspects are guilty or innocent.

The Way Forward

Solving this issue requires cooperation at multiple levels. First, there is a need for strengthening policing and community trust by ensuring faster response times, transparent investigations, and better communication between the community and police. This will help build confidence that justice will be served fairly. Secondly, citizens should be taught about their legal rights and the limits of citizen action to help reduce misunderstanding about what is lawful and what is not. Thirdly, communities should understand that participating in mob justice can bring legal consequences for those involved. Violent acts, even against suspected criminals, are treated as a crime by law. Fourthly, there is a need to address the root causes of crimes in the country. When crime rates are high and there is a looming economic insecurity, citizens feel vulnerable.

Justice is More than a Headline

The Kericho incident is not an isolated case. There have been so many cases of mob justice in the country, and this is a stark reminder that justice is not about punishing wrongdoing. Justice is about fairness, process, and human dignity. Taking the law into one's own hands might seem like a shortcut to justice, but it ultimately chips away at the foundation of a legal system meant to protect everyone. Human rights activists and legal experts have repeatedly warned that mob justice undermines the rule of law, risks the lives of innocent people, and complicates official investigations as key evidence may be lost.