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Police have arrested a baker and a pastor for torturing and burning three schoolboys accused of breaking in and stealing 20 packets of rock cakes.
The three school boys are hospitalised after their legs were burned, their feet literally forced onto hot coals and fire for allegedly committing the crime on Tuesday night.
The soles of their feet were peeled off by the flames and coal.
They denied stealing 20 packets for sale and said they were hungry and only ate a few cakes. They were casual labourers at the bakery.
The minors, aged between 13 and 17 years, are in Form 2 and another boy is in primary school.
They are hospitalised at Baringo County Referral Hospital in Kabarnet town.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
Police spokesman Bruno Shioso on Thursday told the Star police were seeking more suspects for questioning and arraignment on charges of causing bodily harm to children.
They tied their hands, beat them thoroughly before ordering them to step on the hot bakery charcoal fire as they watched them burning
Justine Kipsang
“Our officers are on the case and we have two suspects so far. More people are being sought,” Shioso told the Star.
The owner of the bakery in Kabarnet town tracked down the boys and punished them on suspicion they stole his rock cakes that were packaged and ready for sale.
“He [the bakery owner] with the help of two others hunted for the boys on Tuesday night,” resident Justine Kipsang said on Wednesday.
“They tied their hands, beat them thoroughly before ordering them to step on the hot bakery charcoal fire as they watched them burn,” he told the Star on Wednesday.
Kipsang said he was sleeping at home around 10pm when he heard children in the neighbourhood screaming for help, so he rushed to their rescue.
“I found them stripped naked, being kicked, beaten and tortured while their legs were dipped in hot-burning coals,” he said.
“I pleaded with the bakery owner to forgive them but he insisted they have to pay for his rock cakes they stole,” he said.
One of the victims said he was asleep at his Kaprogony’a estate house when three people pushed the door open and tied him with ropes.
They ordered him to produce his accomplices and accompany them to the bakery.
“They pushed me on a boda boda and forced me to accompany them and identify all my accomplices who were just living in the neighbourhood,” he said.
Afterwards, he said they were harassed and ridden to the bakery where they were beaten, kicked and their legs burned.
The boys told the Star from their hospital beds they used to work as casual labourers, helping the owner with chores so they could earn pocket money.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
They confessed to eating some of the cakes, saying they were hungry. They denied stealing and selling 20 packets, as accused.
The boys further told the Star their boss threatened to chop off their hands if they dare cry or shout.
It took the arrival of a crowd of residents to stop the torture and rescue the boys.
One of the boy’s parents said she received a phone call from the bakery owner telling her to go and see her child in the hospital.
“I went straight to the hospital and found my son being admitted with serious burns on both his legs” the woman said.
She said she could have pay the aggrieved bakery owner if he had told her about the alleged theft, instead of taking the law into his own hands.
Two boys had the soles of their feet peeled off due to intensive burns but doctors said they were stable and out of danger.
“They will be taken through ultra sound to ascertain if there are internal injuries because they complain abdominal pain due to the hard kicks,” nursing officer Paul Kandie said.
The case was reported at Kabarnet police station. BY THE STAR