Two suspects were shot dead in separate incidents in Kakamega and Kiambu counties during police operations targeting armed criminals over the weekend. Authorities confirmed that weapons, including a toy pistol and pangas, were recovered from the scenes.
In the first incident, which occurred in Songa Mbele village in Butere, Kakamega County, police had arrested two men accused of stealing a motorcycle and a plastic chair. While the officers were processing the suspects, a man identified as Thomas Mboya approached the scene armed with a panga. He reportedly attempted to rescue his accomplices and threatened the officers with violence.
One of the officers responded by opening fire with an AK-47 rifle, fatally injuring the suspect. His body was transferred to the mortuary for an autopsy, while the other two suspects remained in custody for interrogation.
The second incident unfolded in Dagoretti, Kikuyu within Kiambu County. Police officers, acting on intelligence reports, intercepted three suspects who were allegedly on a robbery spree at dawn. When challenged, one of the suspects confronted the officers and was shot dead, while two others fled into a nearby thicket.
At the scene, officers recovered a toy pistol and a sharp panga believed to have been used in the attempted robberies. The body of the deceased suspect was moved to the mortuary as police launched a manhunt for the escapees. Authorities emphasized that operations had been stepped up in the area to curb a rising wave of armed robberies.
Meanwhile, in a related crackdown in Butere, four members of a criminal gang known locally as Gaza were arrested. The group had threatened a local chief during a funeral gathering in Shihara village, vowing to burn down his house after he stopped a Disco Matanga party. Six pangas were recovered during their arrest.
Police indicated that the suspects will face charges for preparation to commit a felony as investigations continue to identify and apprehend other gang members still at large.
The weekend operations reflect intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies to dismantle armed criminal networks and restore public safety in high-risk areas.
