A man has been shot dead and another one arrested during a police operation that led to the recovery of a fake gun and stolen vehicle in Machakos County.
Machakos County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia said the two were part of a car theft syndicate that had been terrorising residents in Machakos and neighbouring counties.
Lobolia said the incident happened on Friday along Machakos - Kangundo road within Machakos township at around 12.30pm.
The fatally injured suspect was identified as Arnest Kitheka Benson while his accomplice Dennis Mwangi Kinywa was arrested and detained at Machakos police station.
"Today we managed to get part of highway robbers specifically those who steal vehicles and who have for the last three weeks been targeting cars of Isuzu Dmax make along the Nairobi - Mombasa highway," Lobolia said.
He addressed the press at Machakos police station hours after the incident.
He said the stolen vehicle was believed to be destined for Tanzania.
The county police boss said the arrested man was part of the syndicate technically assigned to deactivate trackers on the vehicle.
"It started that the vehicle itself is based at the Nairobi's City Cabanas where it's used for transportation business. As the the vehicle's driver was doing his work, there were also robbers who wanted to steal it.
"They had already identified the vehicle, they told the driver on phone that there was luggage they wanted him to transport for them using the pickup in Mua area, Machakos County," Lobolia explained.
The driver then drove to the said Mua area where he found one of the suspects who stopped him, got into the vehicle and directed him to the supposed destination.
Lobolia said on their way, the vehicle was blocked by another vehicle, a Toyota Noah, driven by the thugs.
"By then, the Noah had a KCZ registration number, the other numbers were not visible. The vehicle blocked the targeted vehicle and the driver sensed. They blocked it in a way that it was so close," Lobolia said.
"When the driver stopped, three people came out of the Noah, one with a police set communication gadget and a pistol that turned out to be a toy. The pickup driver sensed danger and took off and escaped on foot before the thugs took the vehicle," he said.
He said the car's driver ran and took a boda boda to Kyumbi Police Station where he made a car jacking and vehicle theft report.
"He reported there and then called the owner of the vehicle that he had been car jacked, escaped but vehicle stolen," Lobolia said.
Lobolia said the owner tracked the vehicle and located it at Mtituni area within Machakos town subcounty.
"So, from there the communication between the police and owner of the vehicle started and they followed the vehicles. The vehicle went towards Mumbuni and then lastly it was heading towards Machakos town," Lobolia said.
"What they normally do is that they take the vehicle, move towards Nairobi, change direction through Machakos town, then to their intended destination, probably Tanzania. They come again to Mombasa road," he said.
Lobolia said the suspects stopped at Mumbuni area where they fueled the stolen vehicle.
"Then as they entered Machakos town, that's where the police intercepted the vehicle. They were stopped. The driver stopped and then took off towards a bushy area. Then he was pursued by officers . The other person whom we arrested remained inside the vehicle after he sensed those were police officers and was arrested.
"The other one took off and on the way, at a bushy place, he drew a toy pistol. Then he pointed at the officers. That's where he met his death. He was fatally injured," Lobolia said.