A mission to arrest a robbery-with-violence suspect went bad when he killed one police officer and critically wounded another in Nairobi’s Kahawa West.
The suspect himself was finally cornered and gunned down after his surprise attack on officers in Kamae slums on Monday at midnight.
The wanted suspect was identified as only Ibrahim, alias Mwarabu Stepa.
A police constable is fighting for his life after he was shot in the collar bone by Stepa, authorities said.
Police said Stepa fatally shot Sergeant Grevious Otsieno in the head. He was attached to of Lunga Lunga police station. The wounded man is constable Nicholas Kilemi, hit in the collarbone.
A team of officers from Makadara police station had gone to the area to arrest Stepa for a robbery last week when they met fierce resistance.
Police authorities said Stepa came out of his house firing his weapon at officers.
He then hid in a septic tank near his house.
It took the arrival of reinforcements from Kasarani and Kahawa West to corner the suspect. He was found with a Ceska pistol belong to police and a homemade gun.
A woman who was in the house was arrested for grilling.
The two killings increased to five the number of those killed on Monday.
Three others were fatally shot in two attempted robberies in Nairobi.
Police said they recovered a pistol with four bullets from the suspects.
The first incident was in Mihango, Kayole, where two suspects were killed by police and their motorcycle recovered.
Police said the two had been robbing pedestrians when an alarm was raised, alerting those on patrol. The suspects were later identified at the scene by some of the victims.
Police said another suspect was fatally shot shot in Reuben slums in Mukuru. A pistol was found on him.
The suspect and two other men had been attacking and robbing residents when an alarm was raised.
Police said they had intensified operations to address such cases. Residents have complained about increased crimes and called on police to take action.
Nairobi police officers on leave have been recalled to address residents' demands for security ahead of the August polls.
IG Hillary Mutyambai already has cancelled leaves nationwide in advance of the general election. NYS, KWS, KFS and Prisons officers will be gazetted as special security officers.
In Nairobi, ore personnel will be manning polls. More police will be on the streets before, during and after the general election.
During campaigning, police said crime has increased, especially in urban areas, prompting the move to cancel leave.
The crime streak has been worsened by gangs that follow political leaders for handouts.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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