- A police team acting on intelligence conducted a sting operation in Umoja estate, Nakuru, where a four-man gang was ambushed and ordered to surrender.
- "But in defiance, they opened frenzied fire on the officers triggering a retaliation in self defense," DCI boss Mohamed Amin said in a statement.
Image: DCI
Two suspected thugs were early Saturday killed in a shootout with police in Umoja estate, Nakuru.
A police team acting on intelligence conducted a sting operation in the area where a four-man gang was ambushed and ordered to surrender.
"But in defiance, they opened frenzied fire on the officers triggering a retaliation in self defense," DCI boss Mohamed Amin said in a statement.
"Two gang members were fatally injured while two others managed to escape with suspected gunshot wounds. Their pursuit is underway," he added.
Amin said the officers recovered a LIAI rifle loaded with four rounds of ammunition, a panga, dagger, hammer, a pair of pliers, balaclavas and spent cartridges.
The operation, he said, was mounted by officers from Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters, DCI Nakuru North and those from Lanet.
It followed reports that the suspected thugs had been orchestrating a spate of violent robberies within Nakuru North subcounty where in every incident, a rifle was used.
Intelligence relayed to the police said the thugs had been sighted at Nakuru's Umoja Estate but upon being challenged to surrender, they defied and shot at the officers.
Bodies of the slain suspects were moved to Nakuru Annex Morgue awaiting identification.
Police said they have enhanced operations against armed crime in many parts of urban areas in the country.
Meanwhile, several suspects believed to be behind the spate in vandalism cases targeting Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) apparatus in Kondele area within Kisumu Central Subcounty were arrested and several recoveries made.
Police said a sting operation was conducted in the White Gate area, during which officers ambushed about 50 youths vandalising KPLC properties.
Upon sighting the officers, all the suspects abandoned their loot and scampered to safety to evade arrest.
However, one of them who held on to the nine binding roll wires and three aluminum cross-arm metal stands that he had stolen was arrested.
His accomplices who managed to escape left behind two cars and two motorcycles.
They were all impounded awaiting their claimants at the Kondele police station.
After interrogation of the arrested suspect, the operation was extended to Car Wash area of Kondele, where more suspects were rounded up.
Officers recovered 14 drums of aluminum conductors and seven earth rods.
All the suspects were booked in custody pending arraignment on Monday, April 15, 2024, police said.