Five suspects shot dead along Thika Road, two pistols found on them

Nairobi, Kenya: Five suspected thugs were Monday killed by police in a dramatic shooting along Thika Road, Nairobi.

Police said they recovered an AK47 rifle, two pistols and a car they were using that is believed to have been stolen.

According to the officers involved in the shooting near the KCA University, the group had tried to stage a robbery in Highridge area but abandoned their mission on noticing their mission had been known.

This prompted them to drive off towards Thika Road as officers who were in unmarked cars pursued them.

The same group had made a robbery attempt in Hurlingham again but sped off in unclear circumstances, police said

Witnesses said the officers struck as the vehicles slowed down at a bumps place at about midday.

“I was driving ahead of the affected double cabin vehicle before I heard gunshots that resulted to the death of the five. Police jumped out of their car before aiming their guns at the vehicle in a dramatic manner,” said one witness.

The officers first shot to the air as others aimed at the group of men who were in a double cabin vehicle at the time of the incident.

Nairobi police boss Japhet Koome said they recovered an AK47 rifle and two pistols from the men.

“Unfortunately they are all young men who wanted to make life difficult for many. We could have arrested them but the circumstances did not allow,” said Koome.

The incident caused a huge traffic jam on the busy highway for several minutes before the bodies were moved to the mortuary.

Cases of armed robberies have been fluctuating in the recent past due to police operations.

And a police officer was shot and seriously wounded in a shootout with thugs in Ruaraka area, Nairobi.

Police say the victim was shot in the knee as he chased a gunman who had snatched a bag from a woman in the area on Sunday night.

The thugs managed to escape on foot after the shooting incident. The officer was rushed to hospital where he is admitted in a stable condition. Police say a hunt on the attackers is ongoing.