Kenyans have witnessed a disturbing rise in mob justice incidents, with 845 cases reported across the country since January 2025, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed.
Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, Murkomen said the toll of these attacks is severe, with 579 people killed and 266 others injured, highlighting the lethal nature of the phenomenon.
Kiambu County tops the list with 90 reported cases, resulting in 58 deaths and 32 injuries. Nairobi follows closely with 85 incidents, claiming 55 lives and injuring 30 people. Embu reported 51 cases—33 deaths and 18 injuries—while Kisumu recorded 45 incidents, resulting in 36 deaths and nine injuries.
Other counties affected include Kirinyaga with 39 incidents (28 deaths, 11 injuries) and Kakamega with 32 incidents (19 deaths, 13 injuries). In contrast, Marsabit, Taita Taveta, and Tana River each recorded a single incident, all ending in fatalities.
Murkomen was responding to concerns raised by Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda about the rising cases of mob justice nationwide. The CS acknowledged the public’s growing anxiety, describing these episodes as violent attacks that sometimes involve public humiliation or even death before suspects can face formal investigation or prosecution.
“Concerns have been raised over the rising incidents of mob justice. These cases often involve violent attacks, public humiliation and in some instances fatalities before suspects can be formally investigated or prosecuted,” Murkomen said.
To curb the trend, Murkomen explained that the government has put measures in place aimed at preventing mob justice and ensuring suspects are handled according to the law. He said national government officers continue to sensitize communities on the importance of reporting arrests and criminal incidents to the police.
In addition, police stations are required under the Service Standing Orders to maintain standby teams ready to respond to incidents, including mob justice. Station commanders are tasked with ensuring prompt action and proper management of these cases.
Murkomen also highlighted the role of toll-free numbers such as the Fichua kwa DCI hotline (0800 722 203), which allow citizens to report crimes or potential mob situations before they escalate.
The use of communication technology through the Integrated Command, Control and Communication (IC3) system is also being strengthened to enhance rapid responses to such incidents.
Despite these interventions, the CS said the spike in mob justice cases is driven by multiple factors. A key contributor is the public’s mistrust of the criminal justice system, with some perceiving investigations and court processes as slow, ineffective, or biased. “The release of suspects often reinforces the perception that the justice system is ineffective, prompting communities to take the law into their own hands,” he said.
Murkomen also pointed to the influence of social media, where crime-related content and so-called “instant justice” videos often trigger copycat incidents and normalize violence as a way of resolving disputes. Abuse of hard drugs, which impairs judgment and increases impulsive, violent behavior, was also cited as a factor.
The CS urged Kenyans to resist mob action and cooperate with law enforcement agencies, warning that taking the law into one’s own hands not only undermines the rule of law but also risks harming innocent people.
