A taxi operator was on Thursday rescued from four carjackers by boda boda riders in Matungulu, Machakos County.
Reports by Capital indicate that the incident happened along Nairobi-Kangundo road in Malaa area.
In what turned out to be a botched robbery, the man was drugged by the criminals pretending to be on a land-buying mission and tied to a tree.
However, the gang of three men and one woman was spotted by a member of Nyumba Kumi initiative who alerted the boda boda operators.
Matungulu Assistant County Commissioner James Nyegenye noted that the operators managed to intercept the criminals.
"They had boarded a taxi claiming that they were headed to view land in Matungulu only to drug the vehicle’s driver and tied him on a tree at Muting’a Village," Nyegenye stated.
Although the gang had sped off in a bid to escape, they were overpowered by the mob.
This earned them a thorough beating by agitated locals before police intervened and whisked the criminals away.
The victim and the four attackers were rushed to Kangundo Level 4 Hospital for treatment.
The assailants were reportedly later transferred and locked up at a local police station.