Police in Eldoret have recovered more KDF-like jungle uniforms as they continue hunting for more suspects who escaped with gunshot wounds after four of their accomplices were shot dead.
A team of DCI officers raided a house in Huruma Estate in the city, which is suspected to have been a hideout for the gang that has been masquerading as police officers.
Uasin Gishu county police commander Wilberforce Sicharani said they recovered mobile phones and other crude weapons from the house.
“We have deployed a team that is hunting for members of the gang who escaped and soon we will have them in custody,” he said.
Sicharani has asked residents to continue providing information to the police on suspected criminals operating in the region.
On Monday night, the four suspected armed robbers were fatally shot following a gun battle with detectives along the Eldoret–Kiplombe–Soy Road, just a few kilometres from the city.
Sicharani said the incident occurred after the suspects allegedly opened fire on officers during an operation in the area where they were planning a robbery.
Detectives from the Operation Action Team (OAT) at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters and officers from Eldoret police station had mounted an ambush after receiving reports from members of the public that a gang of several armed men, allegedly dressed in police uniforms, had been terrorising motorists and residents along the route.
Police said the suspects began shooting indiscriminately after spotting the officers, prompting detectives to return fire.
Four suspects were fatally wounded, while an unknown number of their accomplices reportedly escaped towards Eldoret town on three motorcycles.
A search at the scene led to the recovery of a Falcon pistol loaded with four rounds of 9×19mm ammunition, a homemade pistol, a hammer mallet, crude breaking tools, balaclavas, gloves and strings.
One spent cartridge was also recovered, police said.
Preliminary police investigations have linked the suspects to a series of violent robberies across Uasin Gishu county, including incidents targeting Turbo Girls' High School, Kaptagat Girls' High School, Kapenguria petrol station and Starbex petrol station.
Crime Scene Investigation officers processed the scene before the bodies were moved to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) mortuary, where they are awaiting postmortem examinations as investigations continue.
This is the latest such ambush as police intensify efforts to contain crime in several parts of the country.
Police say armed robberies have been on the rise despite ongoing operations to curb the trend. A number of cases have since been solved.
Sicharani said police had previously been receiving reports of criminals wearing military jungle uniforms and harassing residents while claiming to be police officers.
“The criminals keep changing tactics, but we are alert and we are working with members of the public to ensure safety in our region,” he said.
Sicharani spoke at Eldoret police station, where he was accompanied by the outgoing DCI boss in Uasin Gishu, Daniel Muleli, as they displayed items recovered from the incident at Kiplombe.
