MACHAKOS, KENYA – A woman identified as Susan, an employee of Inspire Credits, was killed in the Mwanyani area of Machakos County on the morning of Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in a gruesome attack allegedly perpetrated by her partner. The suspect was subsequently killed by an angry mob at the scene before police could intervene. The incident has cast a harsh spotlight on the twin challenges of intimate partner violence and the public's waning trust in the justice system.

According to eyewitness accounts and initial media reports, Susan was on her way to work and about to board a boda boda when she was ambushed by the assailant. Witnesses reported that the man was armed with a panga and knives, suggesting the attack was premeditated. He reportedly attacked her in the middle of the market, inflicting fatal injuries on the spot.

In the immediate aftermath, members of the public apprehended the suspect. The situation quickly escalated as a crowd gathered and subjected the man to mob justice, leading to his death before law enforcement officials, who were called to the scene, could take him into custody. Police have since launched a full investigation into both killings.

A Symptom of a National Crisis

This tragic event is not an isolated incident but reflects a deeply concerning trend of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide across Kenya. According to a report from the Kenya National Police Service, an average of one woman is killed every day in the country. Data compiled between 2016 and 2024 shows that at least 678 women and girls were murdered by intimate partners. Furthermore, a 2022 national survey indicated that approximately one-third of Kenyan women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence.

Activists and gender scholars attribute the rise in such violence to systemic issues and inadequate legal protections for women. Judy Ngina, a gender scholar at Johns Hopkins University, noted in a May 2025 study that the rise in femicide coincides with a normalization of other forms of violence against women, creating a pervasive culture of insecurity. “It is scary being a woman in Kenya right now,” Ngina stated, emphasizing that violence often occurs even in public spaces.

Mob Justice: A Failure of Trust

The subsequent killing of the suspect by a mob underscores another critical issue: the erosion of public faith in the Kenyan criminal justice system. A report from August 2025 highlighted a significant increase in vigilante violence, with over 139 cases of lynchings reported in June 2025 alone. This trend is fueled by a perception that the official channels are slow, corrupt, and ineffective.

The National Police Service (NPS) has repeatedly condemned mob justice, with Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga stating in an August 2025 press briefing that it “undermines Kenya's justice system and risks plunging the country into anarchy.” He reiterated that every suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty under Article 50 of the Constitution. However, conviction rates for mob justice perpetrators remain exceptionally low, averaging below 2% over the last four years, which does little to deter the practice.

As the community in Mwanyani grapples with the loss of two lives, this incident serves as a stark and tragic reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive, multi-stakeholder interventions. Addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and rebuilding trust in the formal justice system are critical steps to prevent such tragedies from becoming a recurring feature of Kenyan life. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.