Five suspected thugs shot dead by police in a botched robbery in Nairobi

Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue

Nairobi, Kenya: Five suspected thugs were Tuesday morning shot dead by police and a pistol recovered from them in a botched robbery in Kamulu area, Nairobi.

According to police, the five had tried to steal a Toyota Shark from a parking yard at the shopping centre when officers on patrol were alerted at about 4 am.

Police say they also recovered two cars that the suspects were using at the time of the incident. Four sets of master keys were also found on them. The bodies were taken to the mortuary.

Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue said the men were planning to steal the car from the area and escape with it.

“The officers were on alert and managed to get the robbers and recovered a revolver pistol, a toy gun and knives from the men. We believe they are part of a gang that has been disturbing the area,” said Kibue.

Police confirmed that locals have been complaining of repeated attacks by gunmen in which they steal valuables and cash.

The Tuesday killings brought to about 20, the number of suspects killed in Nairobi in a week alone. Six had been killed in the weekend in separate incidents.

Three of them were found dead after allegedly consuming alcohol in Kayole area. Police said they are yet to know the cause of the death of the three on Saturday.

An irate crowd lynched two motorbike riders who had attacked and robbed a woman in Kileleshwa area on Saturday night.

 Another suspect was Sunday shot dead by police in Huruma in a botched robbery incident.

Other five suspected thugs were also last Thursday shot dead in two separate incidents and two pistols recovered from them after they had shot and injured a businessman as they wrestled to rob him of Sh200,000 he was carrying from a supermarket at the Syokimau Railway station .

One of the pistols found on the four was later confirmed to belong to police and it is not clear how it found itself in the hands of the criminals.

Police have also established an anti-mugging team that will be looking looking out for the thugs that destabilise residents.