Police officers in Nairobi have gunned down two suspected armed robbers during an exchange of fire in Mathare area.
The undercover detectives from the DCI shot dead the gangsters at Kiamaiko, Huruma in Mathare sub-county on Monday evening.
Confirming the incident, Nairobi Regional Police Commander Philip Ndolo said the incident occurred at about 1830 hours.
“These were people breaking and stealing from members of the public. Members of the public called the police who responded to the distress call,” Ndolo said.
“The officers were not aware that the suspects were armed in broad daylight, the thugs shot at the police when they arrived at the scene prompting the fire exchange.”
The DCI said the gang defied a lawful order by the detectives to surrender and opened fire leading to a fatal shoot out.
Two suspects managed to escape. Police recovered a pistol with two rounds of ammunition and two spent cartridges.
“The two fatalities resulted from an exchange of live fire after the gang defied a lawful order by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives to surrender and firing at them. The gang of four was neutralized before their robbery mission at Kiamaiko-Soko ya Mbuzi Area matured,” the DCI said in a tweet.
The bodies of the deceased were moved to City mortuary. Ndolo said police were pursuing two accomplices who fled to Mathare valley.
