A suspected robber was on Thursday night gunned down by police following
a foiled robbery at an M-Pesa shop in Kilifi.
Kilifi police boss Njoroge Ngigi said one officer was injured during an exchange of fire with the robbers.
“We received information from members of the public that there were three suspicious people at a petrol station in Misufini on the outskirts of Kilifi town," Ngigi said.
"Police moved in quickly, but when they asked the suspects to identify themselves they shot at them. One
suspect was shot dead while two escaped on foot."
Ngigi said the police officer was shot twice.
“One bullet hit him on the left hand and went through. The second was stuck on the lower abdomen but it has since been removed and he is in stable condition,” he said.
Police recovered an American colt pistol, a Taurus revolver, 13 bullets, a
jungle jacket, two phones, a knife and pliers.
“We believe the three are part of a gang which has been robbing M-Pesa shops in Kilifi. The robbers usually wear black masks. We recovered three masks," Ngigi said.
Kilifi residents have complained about an increase in M-Pesa robberies. They blame the police for doing little to arrest suspects.
Two weeks ago armed gangsters
robbed two other M-Pesa shops.
Ngigi asked members of the public to share information with the police on criminals instead of pointing fingers.
"These robbers live among us and people do not want to say who they are. If there will be proper sharing of information with the police then we will end this matter,” he said
Ngigi told residents to report any person with gunshots injuries.