Police in Kitale town have gunned down a suspected robber and recovered a Ceska pistol with seven magazines and 14 rounds of live of ammunition.
The robber was gunned down Tuesday at Deep Sea club in Kitale town and his two accomplices escaped as they defied police order to surrender.
Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Samson Ojwang told the press in his office that police acting on a tip off trailed the suspected robbers who were on a motorbike after alighting from a vehicle from Eldoret.
When police ordered them to surrender, they started firing at them prompting exchange of fire where one of them was killed and two escaped with bullet wounds.
According to County Commissioner, police suspect that the trio have been behind series of crimes in Kibomet, Milimani,Village inn, Gatua, Lessos and Kibomet areas.
“Police have been following up a lead and at around 9.pm they were spotted in town whereby they were trailed and confronted. They started exchanging fire with police and one of them was gunned down,” he said
The county commissioner also said that the two accomplices escaped to a nearby forest on foot and asked residents to report anyone with gun wounds to the police.
Two identity cards bearing the names Michael Mugwe Gicharu and Samuel Karanja Ndungu were recovered from the deceased’s pocket.
“We want to send a very strong warning to the two accomplices that they do not have any other option but to surrender since they have nowhere to hide,” warned Ojwang.
He commended members of the public for volunteering information and asked them to be vigilant in helping police beef up security.
The administrator said that boda boda cyclists are key in security matters and promised to hold a meeting with them with the aim of incorporating them into security matters.
“In this I urge boda boda riders leadership to cooperate and work with security team as we pursue the remaining two criminals,” he said.
The health facilities in the area have been put on alert to give information of anyone seeking treatment of gun wounds.
The body was removed to Kitale county referral hospital mortuary for identification.
By Pauline Ikanda
