By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: Gunmen shot dead a civilian, injured a police officer and a businessman in a dramatic robbery in Nairobi's South B area.

Witnesses and police said the gang had robbed off a vehicle in South C area and was escaping when they clashed with police officers on patrol.

The officer with his colleague had apparently spotted the stolen X-Trail car being driven recklessly and overtaking other cars along Mai Mahiu Road and decided to stop it during the Monday 1pm incident.

Nairobi Area head of police Benson Kibui said the officers did not know the occupants of the car were armed.

“When they flagged it down, one of the occupants shot at the officers injuring one of them in the chest and leg before they drove off,” said Kibui.

The officer attached to Langata police division was rushed to the Forces Memorial Hospital where he is admitted in a stable condition.

Kibui said the gang then drove to the nearby South B estate where they shot and killed a civilian who was riding in a Landrover that they mistook to be of police. Police say preliminary findings show he could be a public servant.

The police boss added the gang of four abandoned the X-Trail and jumped onto another salon car belonging to an Asian businessman in South B shopping centre.

“It seems the businessman tried to resist prompting the gang to shoot him but he is in a stable condition. They then grabbed his car and used it escape,” added Kibui.

The gang then drove off towards Thika Road where they abandoned the stolen car and escaped, with police in hot pursuit. Police said they were informed the gang escaped into Juja Farm where a major operation was ongoing on Monday evening.

No arrest had been made by Monday evening as more personnel were mobilised to hunt down the gang, which was also armed with rifles.

Kibui said they were yet to know where the gang stole the first car which they abandoned on realising police officers were pursuing them.

Cases of armed robbery have been fluctuating in the city and police say they are making efforts to contain them.