A 36-year-old man from Hirumbi Village in Lurambi, Kakamega County, was nearly lynched on Sunday after he was found in possession of 100 stolen women’s panties in his house.

During the rough-up by area residents, the suspect, Mukoshi Chipukosia, was found wearing two of the stolen women’s underwear.

Nyumba Kumi’s initiative chairperson, Eric Anyanjira, said in an interview  that they became suspicious of Mukoshi every time he would undress and remain in women’s underwear when bathing in the river.

On Sunday, Mukoshi had allegedly gone to steal underwear from a neighbor’s bathroom, when dogs barked, alerting the owner.

“When I went to check, I found he had pocketed my panties,” said the aggrieved woman.

“There is a woman in my neighborhood who is lamenting every day that her underwear is being stolen. When women bathe, and leave their panties in the bathroom, he steals them,” said another female resident.

“We are fed up with his habit! What he is doing is not good, at all. He only steals women’s panties, and not men’s underwear. Every time he steals our panties, it leaves us wondering what the thief is up to,” said another victim.

“For the longest time, thieves in this area have been stealing cows, goats and chicken… But now, we have a thief who has perfected the art of stealing women’s underwear. Everything is being stolen now, literally!” said a male resident.

Mukoshi was forced to personally discard the stolen innerwear and vow never to steal any woman’s panty again.

The suspect said poverty forced him to steal women’s underwear.

“I do not have money to buy new men’s underwear. So, stealing was the only option I was left with,” said Mukoshi.