A senior police officer attached to the National Police Service Airwing was found dead inside a house in Juja, Kiambu County.

The body of Chief Inspector Michael Waiganjo Kabere was discovered on Thursday evening at a house in the Malaba ODM area within Witeithie, police said.

Police officers responded to the scene after receiving information about the discovery of a body.

The officers found both the gate and the main door to the house open before entering the residence, where they discovered the officer lying on a bed on his back. Blood was oozing from his mouth and nose.

A search of the house led to the recovery of a wallet containing a Certificate of Appointment bearing the details of Chief Inspector Michael Waiganjo Kabere, confirming his identity.

Police said the body had no visible external injuries.

Crime scene investigators processed the scene before the body was moved to the Kenyatta University Referral Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted to establish the cause of death.

Police have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the officer's death.

Meanwhile, a suspected robber was shot dead by police during a late-night rescue operation after a man was allegedly held hostage and robbed by armed assailants in Maragua, Murang'a County.

According to police, the incident occurred at about 11.50 p.m. on Thursday in the Mutaro area, where three armed men had allegedly accosted Vincent Ogongo Abuya in a maize plantation.

Police said they received information that the victim was being held hostage and robbed by the suspects. Officers from Maragua Police Station, including the duty team and Crime Aid personnel, responded immediately.

On arriving at the scene, the officers encountered three men armed with machetes.

Police said they ordered the suspects to surrender, but one of them allegedly advanced towards a female officer, while raising a machete to attack her.

In response, the officer fired two rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition from an AK-47 rifle in self-defence, fatally injuring the suspect.

The other two suspects escaped into the darkness.

Police recovered an Oppo R12 mobile phone, believed to have been stolen from the victim, along with two Type-C phone chargers. Officers also recovered a machete and a button phone believed to belong to the deceased suspect.

The body of the unidentified suspect, who sustained gunshot wounds, was moved to Murang'a Level Five Hospital Mortuary pending identification and a post-mortem examination.

Police have launched a manhunt for the two suspects who escaped.