Four suspected thugs were shot and killed in a botched robbery in Sombogo area, Marani, Kisii County.
Police
said the slain suspects included a woman.
This happened after a brief, dramatic chase from a scene where the group had allegedly attempted a robbery on Thursday morning.
At least two others fled on foot in drama, police said, adding no police officer
was injured in the incident.
Two
firearms, which included a Scorpion sub machine gun and a G3 rifle, an axe and
a knife were recovered from the scene, police said.
According
to police, the gang had attempted to rob a bakery owner of cash on Thursday at
1 am.
The gang of six had stormed the outlet armed with a firearm, axes and knives, the owner told police.
They demanded the day's sale, but the owner managed to alert police officers at the Marani camp.
Upon arrival, the officers found the assailants attempting to flee in a tuktuk.
They, together with the bakery owner, pursued the suspects on a motorcycle, police said.
A high-speed chase ensued, leading to an exchange of gunfire near Sombogo Tea Factory.
According to police, despite firing warning shots, the suspects shot back while
trying to escape on an uphill road.
The pursuit ended about 400 meters away at Sombogo shopping center when the tuk-tuk lost control and landed in a ditch, enabling two suspects to escape.
Four
others were killed in the drama, police said.
Police argued that the suspects were ready to kill, based on the fact that they were armed and had shot at them.
The bodies of three unidentified male suspects and one female suspect were taken to Marani Level Four Hospital mortuary for identification and postmortem examination.
Directorate Criminal Investigations DCI in Marani has launched further
investigations into the incident as efforts continue to identify the deceased
and trace the escaped suspects.
The area
has been experiencing a surge in crime amid efforts to contain the trend.
Police
say they have increased patrols in the area to contain the trend in general.
Suspects believed to be behind the incidents have also been profiled, and efforts to trace them for grilling are ongoing, police said.
