Gang member shot dead in Thika, others escape

Police on Wednesday night shot dead a member of a notorious gang terrorizing Thika town residents.

According to a DCI statement, the thief was part of a gang that was stealing from pedestrians along the Kiang’ombe-Railway road at around 9 pm.

The police reported that the robbers, who were armed with a firearm and crude weapons, accosted two young men believed to be students at the Thika-based Mt.Kenya University.

The students later told detectives that they were going to buy avocado fruit.

“They were ordered to surrender all their earthly possessions including mobile phones, belts, shoes and clothes,” the DCI said.

The police said that the students were further ordered to surrender their Mpesa PIN numbers at gunpoint, prompting one of them to scream.

This led to two cops on foot patrol rushing to their aid.

“What followed was a fierce exchange of fire between the cops on a mission to rescue the students and contain the thugs who were fighting to escape the wrath of the law enforcement officers,” the police statement said.

One of the robbers was shot dead as his accomplices escaped by a getaway motorbike heavily wounded.

A firearm with two rounds of ammunition and a machete were recovered from the dead member.

The DCI said that a manhunt for the escapees has since begun.

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