Two armed robbers were shot dead, and two assault rifles were recovered following a fierce shootout in Kigumo, Murang’a county, central Kenya, on Sunday.
“Yesterday, the thugs had staged a robbery at Unaitas SACCO Mununga branch, within Kigumo town, where they made away with an unknown amount of money after disarming a police officer and taking possession of his G3 rifle,” said the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
The marauding gang of 6 that has been on police radar had, on February 25, wrestled an AK-47 rifle loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition from a police officer on patrol within the region.
In a joint operation by officers from Murang’a county backed up by an elite team from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, the officers combed a local forest known as Kinyona forest before coming across the two who challenged them to a duel.
A volley of fierce gunfire followed that brought the entire forest ecosystem to a standstill as the officers returned fire with remarkable precision, killing the two on the spot.
The two police rifles were recovered following the onslaught, and a bag containing Ksh1.13 Million shillings (USD$8719) stolen from UNAITAS Sacco was recovered.
Bodies belonging to the fallen thugs were taken to Murang’a Level V Hospital mortuary awaiting identification as a manhunt for the rest of the suspects ensued.
