Man lynched in Kenya after cops brand him a ‘vampire’

Cops say that on some occasions he drank blood of kids before killing them

When an alleged child serial killer this week escaped from a Nairobi prison, it sparked alarm across Kenya and a national manhunt.

Three days later, he was found by schoolchildren — then beaten to death by a mob in his hometown. Masten Wanjala — who police said had confessed to killing at least 10 children over a period of five years - — allegedly posed as a football coach who drugged his victims before executing them. On some occasions, he drank their blood, according to law enforcement.

Arrested in July

He was arrested in July in connection with the murder of a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy and then confessed to a spate of other killings, police said.Wanjala, who had not been convicted, was supposed to appear in court on Wednesday in connection with two of the alleged killings. But authorities said he did not appear for the morning roll call — and then it became apparent he had escaped, making front page news around the country.

The fugitive was spotted Friday by children who recognised him, said Kenya Police spokesman Bruno Isohi Shioso. The villagers in Wanjala’s hometown Bungoma, which is about 400km from Nairobi, then decided to take matters into their own hands, Shioso said, killing the 20-year-old man in an act of “mob justice.” They acted so quickly once Wanjala was identified that it was not possible for authorities to intervene.

In Kenya, the case has sparked concern about how police allowed Wanjala — who authorities had referred to as a “bloodthirsty vampire” — to walk out of their custody.

“Things just happen,” Shioso said, when asked how Wanjala had managed to escaped from Jogoo Road Police Station. “Once we complete the probe, we should have a clear picture of what happened.”