Three robbery with violence suspects from a group of five who are believed to have been behind a spate or robbery incidents in Uasin Gishu were shot dead on Sunday night.
According to a police report seen by Nai Haps, a multi-agency security team led by DCI officers and undercover police officers pursued the gang to Eldoret’s Central Business District based on intelligence leads.
The five were allegedly plotting a break-in at the Transmatt supermarket within the town, according to detectives.
According to the report, the five opened fire on the officers when they were ordered to stop; three were killed in the ensuing shootout, while two escaped.
An AK 47 assault rifle with erased serial numbers and a magazine holding 23 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition was found.
The bodies of the three unidentified suspects were transferred to the Moi Teaching and Refferal Hospital Mortuary.
The latest incident comes amid an increase in violent robberies in Uasin Gishu.
On March 15, Mary Mwihaki, an employee of Blessed Selection Post Mini supermarket, gave police a statement about a fatal robbery that left her boss dead.
According to the statement, two men posing as customers entered the supermarket before turning on the owner, Peter Kamau, and robbing him of cash and valuables of unknown value.
They then fatally shot him in the neck before fleeing the crime scene.
In a separate incident, Alex Ndegwa, the owner of Skymart Store in Eldoret, told police that two men entered the Seyot Hardware on April 8 posing as customers before forcing the owner Mathew Rono inside, where they ransacked the hardware cash box and stole Sh10000.
During the daylight incident, one of the men shot in the air to disperse a crowd before hopping into a waiting private car that sped away from the scene.
On April10, Jane Mwangi reported to police that two men armed with a gun entered her shop, Smart Selection, and fired one round, ordering the occupants to lie down on the floor.
They then robbed the occupants, escaping with Sh50,000 and two M-pesa mobile phones.
According to the police report, the two escaped on foot after firing two rounds outside the shop to disperse onlookers.
The two fled on foot after firing two rounds outside the shop to disperse onlookers, according to the police report.
