Three suspects held at Ndunyu Njeru Police Station in Nyandarua County died on Thursday night after a mob of about 400 people stormed the facility, set it on fire, and demanded the release of four detainees accused of stock theft.

The violent confrontation began around 8 pm, when the crowd descended on the station and attempted to forcibly remove the suspects from custody.

Police officers on duty resisted the mob’s demands, prompting the group to start throwing stones at the building before eventually torching it.

Amid the chaos, three of the four suspects in custody died in the fire, while the fourth was rescued in critical condition and rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

Their bodies were later retrieved from the burnt structure and taken to Engineer Sub-County Mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The fire caused widespread destruction at the station, including the complete burning of the area chief’s office, a police land cruiser, and a salon car believed to have belonged to the suspects.

The station's report office, the Officer Commanding Station’s office, and other offices were also destroyed.

A container used as an exhibit store was broken into during the attack, and two motorcycles along with an empty fuel drum were stolen. Four police residential houses were also vandalised in the incident. One police officer was injured during the melee.

Despite the intense violence, police managed to secure all firearms. However, several weapons remained locked in a steel box inside the burnt report office. The box has since been transferred to North Kinangop Police Station for safety.

The attack at Ndunyu Njeru Police Station adds to the growing list of more than 10 police facilities targeted across the country since nationwide protests broke out on June 25.

Earlier that day, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had issued a firm warning, authorising police to use lethal force against anyone attempting to storm police stations.

In a separate incident in Kiambu County, police reported the theft of at least five firearms during an attack on the Dagoretti Police Post. Other police stations attacked include those in Juja, Villa, Molo, Ongata Rongai, Matuu, Mai Mahiu, and Ol Kalou.

Authorities are still assessing the full scope of destruction, with concern mounting over the ongoing damage to police installations and the safety of law enforcement officers amid the unrest.