Four suspected robbers, including a woman, were shot dead during a failed robbery in Sombogo, Marani, Kisii County.
The incident followed a dramatic chase after the gang allegedly attempted to rob a bakery owner early Thursday morning. Police reported that at least two other suspects managed to escape on foot, while no officers were harmed.
During the operation, police recovered two firearms—a Scorpion submachine gun and a G3 rifle—along with an axe and a knife. The gang of six had reportedly stormed the bakery at 1 a.m., demanding cash, but the owner alerted police, who arrived as the suspects tried to flee in a tuk-tuk.
A high-speed pursuit, aided by the bakery owner on a motorcycle, led to an exchange of gunfire near Sombogo Tea Factory. Despite police firing warning shots, the suspects retaliated. The chase ended when the tuk-tuk lost control and crashed into a ditch, allowing two suspects to escape while four were fatally shot.
Police believe the armed gang was prepared to kill, given their weapons and resistance. The bodies of the deceased, three men and one woman, were taken to Marani Level Four Hospital mortuary for identification and postmortem.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Marani has launched further investigations to identify the deceased and track down the fugitives. Amid rising crime in the area, police have intensified patrols and are actively pursuing suspects linked to recent incidents.
