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Police said the suspects were on a motorcycle and had allegedly snatched a mobile phone from a pedestrian at the Westlands roundabout.
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This prompted a brief shootout between the rider and his pillion passenger and police on patrol.
A suspected thug was beaten to death by a mob in a botched robbery with violence incident in Westlands, Nairobi.
The incident happened on Wednesday at the Sarit Centre roundabout after a dramatic chase.
Police said the suspects were on a motorcycle and had allegedly snatched a mobile phone from a pedestrian at the Westlands roundabout before speeding off as they were being pursued.
This prompted a brief shootout between the rider and his pillion passenger and police on patrol.
No injuries were reported in the drama, witnesses said.
Police and witnesses said the two sped towards Sarit Centre where other riders caught up with them managing to pull down the pillion passenger.
The rider managed to escape the scene speeding off.
The passenger was stoned to death. He was rescued from the scene and rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police who arrived at the scene said they recovered a Retay Falcon firearm with 10 live bullets from the slain man.
The hunt for the other suspect who escaped is ongoing, police said.
A mobile phone and passport that had been stolen from a pedestrian were recovered from the slain man.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending identification and autopsy.
Police have discouraged mob lynching and want suspects arrested and surrendered to authorities for processing.
Cases of mobile phone snatching have been on the rise in the area amid heightened police patrols.
In another incident, police are investigating the recovery of a pistol from a trench along Mawenzi Road in the Upper Hill area, Nairobi.
A guard told police he found the MP5 rifle with a sling but without a magazine, as he went about his work.
Police said they want to establish the ownership of the rifle following the Wednesday evening recovery.
It was sent to ballistic experts for tests and analysis as part of the probe.
Police suspect the weapon was hidden there after being used at a crime scene and they are investigating the possible owner.