Police in Embu West Sub-County have shot dead two people suspected of robbery in the area.
The two were part of a five-member gang that allegedly stole items from homes in Njukiri Village on Thursday night, July 14.
Three of the said-gang members escaped with gunshot wounds, police said.
Njukiri residents said a group of five men armed with firearms moved from house to house on Thursday night robbing them of household items, including gas cylinders.
The residents said the suspects moved around in a white Toyota Fielder.
At around 2am on Friday, July 15, the suspects were cornered by police officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Vivian Gichiku, a resident of Njukiri, said she heard gunshot sounds at 2am.
“When I woke up at around 6am, I received news that two people had been shot dead and a car recovered,” she told The Standard.
Kevin Gitonga, a student of Embu University, told The Standard that they have, of late, been losing their household items to burglars and robbers in the area.
“Last week, we were forced to fundraise for a college mate who lost all his household items to robbers,” said Gitonga.
Embu West Sub-County Police Commander Julius Kyumbure said four of the suspected robbers fired at police officers in the wee hours of Friday when they were challenged to surrender.
Kyumbure said the suspects were aboard a white Toyota Fielder during the shoot-out.
“They managed to speed off into a thicket. We later found two of them dead in the car, with three of their accomplices missing,” said Kyumbure.
“We suspect that three [of the suspects], who escaped, have gunshot wounds. I appeal to hospitals in Embu and neighbouring counties to report to us should any patient with an unexplained gunshot injury seek medical attention at their facilities,” he said.
In the Toyota Fielder, police recovered gas cylinders, clothes, shoes and several household items.
Bodies of the felled robbery suspects were taken to the Embu Level Five Hospital morgue.
The fatal shooting of the suspects comes two days after police recovered a firearm and stolen household items from a house in Siakago Market, Embu County.
Embu County Police Commander Daniel Rukunga said law enforcement officers in the county and those from the neighbouring Kirinyaga and Tharaka Nithi counties had activated a special team to tackle rising cases of insecurity.