A 20-year-old man died after being shot during an exchange of gunfire with police officers pursuing a group suspected of stealing household items from a hotel in Nairobi’s Industrial Area.
The incident happened Tuesday along Dunga Road in Makadara Sub-County, police said.
A pistol was recovered at the scene, according to police.
Police said the incident began when an officer attached to the Special Guard Branch at Shauri Moyo spotted eight people carrying household items.
The officer reportedly ordered the group to stop, but they fled towards Commercial Street, prompting him to pursue them.
According to police, one person in the group drew a pistol and fired at the pursuing officers, who returned fire, injuring him.
Police identified the injured man as Victor Okello, 20, and said he had a gunshot wound to the stomach.
Police said the items the group was carrying were suspected to have been taken from a nearby hotel.
Police said a second person was arrested and escorted to Industrial Area Police Station. Two large sufurias were recovered from him, police said.
Police also said they recovered a Gen 5 pistol, a magazine containing 12 rounds of live ammunition, one spent cartridge and a pistol holster at the scene.
Crime Scene Investigation officers from Makadara processed and documented the scene before the injured man was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital.
However, Okello was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, according to police. His body was moved to the City Mortuary pending an autopsy.
Nairobi police boss Issa Mohamud said officers had intensified operations in the city to address reported cases of armed robbery.
He said the operations had led to the arrest of dozens of people recently.
Police said some cases were pending in court, while others remained under investigation.
Mohamud said some robbery incidents involved the use of motorbikes. He said police had been conducting operations targeting riders to ensure compliance with requirements.
“We are focused on targeted operations to address this menace of crime by the riders and others,” he said.
