Police officers on Sunday night killed eight suspected criminals who had broken into a godown at Industrial Area, Makadara Sub County.
This is the single biggest number of suspects to be killed at a go in recent years.
The men were mowed down by police bullets after they were reportedly found stealing machinery from a store.
According to the police report, thieves had broken into Sihra Coffee Machinery Service and Gensham Wood Enterprises godowns and were loading goods into a waiting lorry, a Mitsubishi canter registration number KAS 340M.
“It was reported by the chief controller that there was a burglary and stealing at a godown along Lungalunga road opposite shell petrol station. Police officers from the industrial police station swung into action,” the report from filed under OB NO 37/23/08/2020 at Industrial Area police station read.
Police said they shot dead eight men at the scene while four others managed to escape on foot.
Police say they also recovered two homemade pistols and machetes from the men in the incident. An alarm had been raised over the robbery, hence, alerting police who were on patrol.
The team that responded said they were attacked first prompting them to fire back and fatally injured the eight.
“They were challenged by officers to surrender but opened fire. The officers returned fire fatally injuring eight of them,” the report said.
The lorry and the exhibits were towed to Industrial Area Police Station while the bodies of the eight were taken to City Mortuary awaiting a postmortem.
According to witness, all were young men in their late 20s.
In a similar incident, police shot dead eight suspected robbers and recovered five homemade guns and eight rounds of ammunition in Industrial Area in April 2016.
Industrial Areas is a top economic hub hosting hundreds of small-scale and large-scale companies.
Nairobi police boss Rashid Yakub said they are investigating the incident and trying to get those who escaped for questioning.
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