Suspect caught robbing Kenyans on camera at a restaurant in Nairobi / HANDOUT
Detectives shot and killed a key suspect linked to the
brazen armed robbery at a popular restaurant in Westlands, Nairobi, and
recovered a Beretta pistol following a fierce shootout in Joska, Machakos
County.
The suspect is also believed to have been part of a criminal
network behind a series of violent robberies across Nairobi, Kiambu and
Machakos counties.
Acting swiftly on crucial intel, detectives from DCI
Headquarters joined forces with their DCI Matungulu counterparts to launch a
raid on a house in Joska Town, where the suspect had reportedly taken refuge in
his girlfriend’s house.
Upon identifying themselves and ordering the occupants to
open the door, the suspect opened fire through a kitchen window, spraying
bullets at the officers. Detectives returned fire in self-defence.
After securing the premises and gaining entry, the
detectives discovered the suspect lying fatally wounded inside the house.
A Beretta pistol, loaded with a magazine containing four
rounds of 9mm ammunition, alongside live rounds and spent cartridges, were
recovered at the scene.
Also recovered were three mobile phones.
Preliminary investigations strongly link the suspect to the
recent daylight robbery along General Mathenge Road in Spring Valley,
Westlands, where armed thugs terrorised diners, snatching phones and valuables
before fleeing on motorcycles.
The recovered firearm is now in the custody of the National
Police Service Forensic Laboratory (NPSFL), where ballistic experts will
examine it for possible links to other violent crimes.
Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway to trail down the suspect’s
accomplices, who remain at large.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reaffirmed its
commitment to dismantling violent criminal networks and ensuring that all those
involved in serious crimes face the full force of the law.
The gang, riding on two motorcycles, struck Chaiiwali Hotel
at around 10.40 p.m. after two of the suspects entered the restaurant
pretending to be customers.
Once inside, they drew pistols and robbed patrons of seven
mobile phones and one HP laptop in a robbery that lasted less than a minute.
Before fleeing towards the Parklands area, the attackers
fired two rounds into the air. Police recovered a spent 9mm cartridge at the
scene as evidence.
Investigators later tracked the stolen mobile phones to the
Kariobangi area as efforts to identify and arrest the suspects continue.
Police said a team of detectives was pursuing the gang with
an intention of getting those behind the same.
The customers were left shaken during and after the attack
caught on camera.
Footage shared showed the gunmen with face masks with
pistols and demanding valuables at gunpoint.
They grabbed what they could before they stormed out and
shot to the air to scare those who could dare confront them.
Some customers were seen taking cover as the gang shot to
the air and escaped on motorcycles.
Police said they were pursuing good leads into the attack
and efforts to trace and arrest the gang were ongoing.