Four suspected thugs shot dead by police in botched robberies in Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya - Four suspected thugs were Tuesday night shot dead by police in two separate botched robberies in Nairobi and a pistol recovered.

Police say there has been increased cases of armed robberies in the city but security agencies have enhanced patrols as part of efforts to address the menace.

Three of the suspects were killed in Mukuru kwa Reuben slums where they had apparently attacked revellers in a bar and tried to rob them.

According to Makadara division police boss Nehemiah Langat, the gang had ordered about 20 revellers in the bar to lie down and started to rob them when an alarm was raised.

“Police were alerted as the robbery went on and arrived there minutes later and managed to kill three of the suspects while their two accomplices escaped on foot,” said Langat.

A number of stolen property including mobile phones were recovered from the slain men.

A fourth suspect was killed in Dandora area in another botched robbery and a pistol recovered.

Police said the suspect was part of a gang that had been attacking and robbing residents at night. The bodies were later moved to the city mortuary.

Meanwhile, police are looking for a gunman who shot dead a man in a car and robbed him off his laptop and a mobile phone in Ngara area, Nairobi.

The victim was in a taxi when a gunman on a motorbike rode by and stopped, smashed the window and shot him in the head before grabbing his laptop and mobile phone on Tuesday night.

Police say they are yet to know what was in the laptop that prompted the shooting but a hunt on the gunman is ongoing.

“We do not know details of the shooting but experts are investing it further,” said Gigiri DCIO Daniel Kandie.