A senior AP officer and a civilian died when their vehicle was sprayed with bullets in an ambush near
Kiwanja AP Post in
Kahawa West on Tuesday night.
Inspector Michael Ziki, who was in charge of the post, and the male friend were driving in Kiwanja village when they were attacked.
A boda boda rider was also killed in the 11 pm incident and a woman shot in the leg.
The Star found the bodies riddled with bullets and the car's engine still running.
The gunmen escaped with Ziki's Ceska pistol, leaving at least 17 spent cartridges at the scene.
A junior police officer told the Star Ziki was responding to a distress call after patrons at a pub accused an AP officer of causing disturbance.
The officer said he heard gunshots after Ziki rescued his colleague from the patrons.
It is believed the gunmen, estimated to be more than five, had trailed Ziki's car before the ambush.
Officers who spoke to The Star on condition of anonymity said the village has bushes and maize plantations which pose a security threat.
"It is ironical that we have several floodlights in the adjacent Kahawa West township and no security lights in this expansive village in Nairobi," one said.
He said the attackers fled towards neighbouring Membly estate on the Northern bypass.
Another officer said the car belonged to Ziki's friend but that the inspector was driving at the time of the attack.
"We do not know the car owner but we spotted him with Ziki in the car since morning," the officer said.
He said Ziki had earlier apologised to junior officers and "anyone I might have offended."
Residents scampered for safety as heavily armed police officers patrolled the village next to Kenyatta University.
Kiambu OCPD Stephen Ng'etich did not divulge details of the attack.
The bodies were taken to Kenyatta University morgue.
The story has been updated