The suspect, Peter Ndwiga was spotted by the villagers carrying three chickens believed to have been stolen from one of the neighbours.
As the 45-year-old tried to run away with the stolen birds, the owner met with him and raised an alarm.
In response a mob gathered and roughed him up before burning him to death.
Residents complained that the suspect had been engaged in many petty chicken and cereals thefts but had not stopped even after numerous arrests and warnings.
Area police boss Peter Kimani said when the suspect was questioned where he had gotten the chicken, he was unable to explain and instead ran away raising suspicion of the locals.
He said the residents caught the suspect and beat him to death then set his body on fire. The mutilated body was taken to Embu Provincial General Hospital.
The OCPD warned the residents against taking law into their own hands but learn how to report crime.
This is not the first time Kenyans have taken law into their own hands to deal with suspected criminals who steal or attack them in their neighbourhood.
