Police in Mwala, Machakos County are investigating an incident where a man hacked his neighbour for allegedly stealing his charcoal on Sunday.

Mwala subcounty police commander Nancy Jerobon said the 35-year-old man reported the incident to the Kathama police post after he committed the heinous crime.

"It happened on August 11, 2024, at Kithuiani village in Ulaani sublocation, one adult namely Mathias Mwanzia Kitheka aged 35 years alleged that his charcoal had been stolen and he found out that his neighbour namely Attanus Mutiso Kithande aged 51 years was the one who stole it," Jerobon told the Star by phone hours after the incident.

Jerobon said the suspect later trailed the deceased and hacked him. He died on the spot.

"He followed him and assaulted him by cutting him on the head and left leg using a panga leaving him lying on the ground. The suspect then went to report at Kathama police post where he was placed in custody," Jerobon said.

She said officers from the Kathama police post visited the scene and found that Kithande had been taken to his house and had succumbed to the injuries.

"He had visible deep cuts on the head and broken left leg with blood all over his face. A blood-stained left open shoe was recovered from the suspect's house," the police boss added.

The body was moved to Matuu Level 4 hospital's mortuary in Yatta subcounty awaiting an autopsy.

Jerobon said the suspect would be arraigned in court on Monday.

She said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations sleuths attached to Mwala police station had launched investigations into the incident.