Kenya police say suspected 'vampire' child killer lynched by mob

Masten Wanjala killed days after he escaped from custody

Masten Wanjala in a police vehicle on July 14, 2021. Kenyan police said Wanjala, who reportedly confessed to a string of child murders, was lynched by a mob after escaping from custody. AP Photo

A suspected Kenyan serial killer of children who said he drank the blood of his victims, is believed to have been killed by a mob in his home town, days after escaping custody, police said on Friday.

Masten Milimo Wanjala, 20, was arrested in July in connection with the disappearance of two children. Police said he had confessed to the murder of 10 children in several parts of the East African country over the past five years.

Wanjala was scheduled to appear in court in Nairobi on Wednesday in connection with the murder of two children, aged 12 and 13, but did not appear for the morning roll-call.

"Special service agents had been on his trail in western Kenya, but unfortunately he was spotted by villagers in Bungoma, and beaten to death before our agents re-arrested him," the Directorate of Criminal Investigations announced on Twitter on Friday.

Bruno Shioso, the National Police Service spokesman, said they were investigating to verify that the body was that of Wanjala.

"We are trying to do some basic verification on the body to make sure the person killed by the mob was him," Mr Shioso said.

He said children on their way to school had spotted Wanjala and raised the alarm, prompting some villagers to chase and corner him in a house, where he was killed.

Mike Mbuvi Sonko, former governor of Nairobi County, had earlier announced a 200,000 shilling ($1,800) bounty for anyone with information leading to Wanjala's re-arrest.