Police kill five thugs, recover cars

By CYRUS OMBATI

Nairobi City County

Five men suspected to be carjackers were mowed down by police bullets in two separate incidents.

Three cars that had been reported stolen were also recovered in the robbery attempts in Nairobi.

Police said they arrested four other suspects after the shooting.

The first incident occurred in Dagoretti area, where four men were killed after a botched robbery.

The men were in the company of six others and had raided local premises, stealing two cars.

Nairobi PPO Anthony Kibuchi said police were alerted minutes later, and mounted roadblocks and searches.

He said police ordered the men to surrender, but they refused, prompting a shooting.

Mr Kibuchi said the stolen cars were returned to the owners while the bodies were taken to the mortuary.

The second shooting in Kamiti Corner left one suspect dead. Three others were arrested in the botched robbery.

The gang had reportedly carjacked a woman in Eastlands and bundled her into the boot before fleeing.

Police said witnesses alerted them. After a long chase, the gang was spotted near Githurai.

They then sped off towards Kamiti, with police in hot pursuit.

Kibuchi said they are interrogating the arrested to establish if they are behind a number of robbery incidents reported locally.

Meanwhile, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will build 213 houses for police officers operating in refugee camps in Dadaab.

Further, the commissioner will buy 31 vehicles for the officers to enhance patrols. Internal Security PS Francis Kimemia said the move would help police manage refugees.

UNHCR country representative Liz Ahua said there were more than 400,000 refugees in the targeted camps. They spoke at Harambee House where the vehicles were handed over to the police.

　

　

　

hence the need to have a unit of police there to ensure their safety.

She said the vehicles would enhance escorts of refugees in the expansive camps.

"Already, we have given nine vehicles to the police, and more will come," she said.

She made the remarks at Harambee House when she handed over the vehicles to Regular and Administration Police officers.

Present to receive the vehicles were Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere and AP Commandant Kinuthia Mbugua.

Kimemia said nearly 73,000 refugees who fled in Bulohawo town near Mandera in clashes between Al-Shabaab and a pro-government group had gone back.

The PS said the refugees went back on their own volition after the pro-government group took over the area from Al-Shabaab in clashes that left dozens dead.

"There is calm for now, and we are beefing up security to ensure the fight does not spill over into the country," said Kimemia.