Four men who police claimed were behind the murder of a Catholic priest in Kinoo area, Kiambu County were Monday killed in a police ambush in Parklands, Nairobi.
The four were trailed by police and killed near K1 Club as they walked for a robbery mission and two pistols recovered from them. Police said the salon car they were using is the same one they had when they attacked and killed Father John Njoroge Muhia of Kinoo Parish on December 10.
In the December incident, the gang had earlier used motorbike before jumping onto the salon car and escaped.
Officers from Special Crimes Prevention Unit trailed the men up to the area yesterday at about 4 pm before opening fire as they tried to escape.
Gigiri police boss Richard Muguai said one suspect managed to escape on foot. Witnesses said they heard shouts and orders before gunshots rent the air.
The car that the men had was also sprayed with bullets on the sides. The incidents attracted a huge crowd who wanted to have a glimpse of the scene.
The bodies were moved to the mortuary.
“We have information the same men were behind the killing of a priest in Kinoo two weeks ago. It was a sad end for them,” said Muguai.
Father Njoroge was first attacked by four men who were riding on motorcycles who obstructed him at a rough road, forcing him to pull over, and demanded for a bag from his car.
One of the thugs then brandished a pistol and shot the deceased on the chest through the windscreen of his vehicle.
Witnesses said the thugs then quickly opened the car and removed the bag and a mobile phone then fled on their motorcycles.
The 56-year-old priest is said to have been on his way to a bank in Kikuyu Town to deposit money he had. The amount of money he was carrying still remains unknown.
Another witness who was driving nearby at the time of the incident said he rushed the priest to Kikuyu Hospital but was he declared dead on arrival.
Police say they have beefed up security in major estates ahead of the start of the New Year.
