Two killed in shootout between police and suspected thugs in Mathare slums

Nairobi, Kenya: Two people, including a pedestrian and a suspected thug, were Thursday afternoon killed in a shootout between police and suspected thugs in Mathare slums, Nairobi.

A female pedestrian was also shot and seriously wounded in the fire exchange that happened following a botched carjacking incident.

Police blamed the gunmen for the fatal shooting of the man and the injured woman.

A team of Administration Police were on patrol in the area when they were alerted of a gang that was busy harassing, robbing and extorting pedestrians when they gave a chase.

The gang of four later hijacked a matatu and tried to escape in it while shooting at the officers, during which they killed the man and injured the woman, said Starehe OCPD Bernard Nyakwaka.

It was then that one of the suspects was cornered and shot dead. A pistol and a knife were recovered from him.