Police officers in Nakuru County on Saturday arrested 27 suspects in connection with the series of armed robberies that have been reported in the city in the last few days.
Five of the suspects Moses Njoe, 21, Thomas Nguruna, 19, Evans Napati, 21, Sammy Sunguya, 23, and Emmanuel Tein, 20, were arrested by officers based at Rhonda police station, shortly after allegedly staging an attack in Jasho area, Nakuru West sub-county.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss George Kinoti said the five were cornered after Inspector Anunda, who was leading the operation fired a round in the air from his AK-47 assault rifle.
Crude weapons, including machetes, clubs, swords, metal rods and pieces of wood were recovered from the suspects, who have left Nakuru residents living in fear of being attacked.
SIM cards and identification documents belonging to victims of robbery incidents were also recovered.
The rest of the suspects were arrested in a separate operation conducted in Mawanga area at night, where 22 suspects all aged between 20 and 30 were arrested.
Detectives are warning the remaining thugs to surrender within 24 hours before a specialized team of sleuths from DCI headquarters is deployed.
Kinoti said they should learn from the fate that befell the Katombi gang, which operated with impunity in Mathare, Huruma and Pangani areas before finally being wiped out.
