Msambweni CID officer caught in Diani hotel gun raid

KWALE, KENYA: An armed gang of four robbed clients and patrons of Blue Swallow Hotel along Diani beach on Monday evening and made away with mobile phones and unknown amount of money.

Among those who were caught up in the violence was the area Divisional Criminal Investigation Officer (DCIO) Edwin Kamau.

"They were four robbers though two entered in while two stayed outside after following a vehicle that was coming in. They ordered the watchman to lie down as they proceeded to the bar where they ordered everyone to give their phones. Kamau's phone was on the table where they picked it," said a hotel manager who asked not to be named but police deny the officer was robbed.

She added that the two gangsters flashed guns at the clients and when the CID cocked his, they started running outside but no one was injured.

The CID officer shot at least fifteen times at the robbers who disappeared without trace.

Confirming the incident Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah said the DCIO did not lose his phone as he found it later charging.

"The four were armed with crude weapons and a wooden thing that looked like a gun. The officer who was within the premises had gone to the toilet and when he heard the commotion he cocked his gun prompting the robbers to run away without stealing anything," said Omijah.

The OCPD added that the officer then called for reinforcement which came immediately.

Lately this group has been terrorizing people at the tourism town of Ukunda and according to Omijah it has been on the loose and always evading police dragnet.

Victims describe the gang as merciless with one tall, dark and energetic being its commander.

"It is now clear that their days are numbered going by their conduct. We believe the robbers are from Likoni but we have put necessary measures to bring this to a stop," stated Omijah.

On Saturday police also gunned down one Bamphil Nagabo Wamoyi aged 31 at Ibiza area.

Wamoyi who is believed to be residing in Mombasa was in a company of another man who escaped after robbing at Coconut bar.

"They went to the bar and robbed the owner Sh9,000 but as they were escaping he raised alarm which attracted the officers who were on patrol. The officers gave a chase and managed to kill one as the second ne escaped. We recovered one magazine of a ceska pistol with three rounds of ammunition of nine millimetre, a gun holster and Sh1,050," explained the OCPD.