Pedestrian, 7 suspects killed in shootout

By Cyrus Ombati and Jane Akinyi

Seven suspected thugs were shot dead by police in a botched robbery on Industrial Area’s Lunga Lunga Road and guns recovered from them.

The eighth person, a pedestrian died in the 9am incident, but it is not clear who between police and the suspects fired the bullet.

Witnesses and police said the men wanted to rob Kenya Breweries distributor Maina Thuku of Sh800,000 he had in his car.

Speaking to The Standard, Mr Thuku said he was driving when he saw three men, two of them wearing bulletproof vests approach his car.

"They ordered me to surrender my cash but before I could do so, I heard gunshots and covered my head in the car," he said.

Police patrolling the area fired the bullets that killed the men aged between 20 and 28.

On the spot

Three of them died on the spot while the other four were shot as they tried to escape towards Mukuru slums. Three pistols and two bulletproof vests were found on the men.

Thuku said the suspects had a getaway car, which at least two others used to escape. Police said the civilian shot by the fleeing thugs was a casual worker in the area.

Embakasi OCPD David Bunei denied claims that police may have killed the pedestrian.

Thuku said the thugs seemed to have had information he had the money with him.

"They must be people who know me because this is the second time they are trying to attack me," said Thuku.

Yesterday’s incident caused a heavy traffic jam that lasted for hours.

Meanwhile, two children were yesterday burnt to death in a fire in Nairobi’s Dandora Estate. The parents of the two were rushed to hospital after they sustained burns as they tried to save their children.

Razed down

Close to 20 houses were destroyed in the 4am incident before neighbours contained the blaze. More than 30 other houses were razed down on Sunday night in Mathare slums, police said.

The cause of the fires was yet to be established.

Meanwhile, it was double tragedy for a family when police in Kisii gunned down a man who killed his brother and injured another.

The suspect, Nzomo Basweti, 45 is said to have descended on his siblings with a panga, killing one on the spot and injuring the other.

He then allegedly attacked a policeman who tried to arrest him during the Saturday incident.

Nyanza PPO Anthony Kibuchi on Monday said the man was suspected to have gone wild after they quarreled.

Kennedy Orero died while undergoing treatment while his brother Nyagaka Orero was hospitalised in serious condition.