Police in Kisumu have arrested a man believed to be part of
an armed gang following a shootout near Patel Samaj Temple along Otieno Oyoo
Street early Tuesday morning.
According to police reports, officers on patrol became
suspicious after noticing a man carrying a bulky bag near the temple.
When approached, the
suspect allegedly pulled out an assault rifle and opened fire on the officers.
The man then fled into the temple compound, where he
reportedly robbed a security guard of his mobile phone and other personal items
before tying him up with a piece of cloth.
From inside the building, he allegedly continued to fire at
police officers, forcing residents and worshippers in the area to seek cover.
Police later subdued the suspect after an exchange of fire,
recovering an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition.
The man was arrested and is being held at Kisumu Police
Station, where he is undergoing interrogation.
Authorities say he will be arraigned in court once
investigations are complete, as efforts continue to trace two other suspects
believed to have escaped the scene.
The incident comes amid intensified police operations
targeting armed gangs across the country.
On May 22, 2025, police arrested three Ugandans and one
Kenyan suspected of being behind a series of robberies in Nairobi and Western
Kenya, according to Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Seda.
The suspects were arrested in Saika, Dandora, and Huruma,
where officers recovered multiple firearms, including a Falcon pistol with 11
bullets and an AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.
Investigations revealed the Ugandans had entered Kenya
through the Malaba border a day before their arrest and were planning another
robbery in Eastleigh.
Separately, in Garbatulla, Isiolo County, a man surrendered
an AK-47 rifle with nine bullets to local authorities in Modogashe North
sub-location.
Police are analysing the weapon to determine if it was used
in any criminal activities.
Commander Seda said the ongoing crackdown aims to dismantle
cross-border criminal networks and curb rising cases of armed robbery across
the country.
