A suspected armed robber linked to a recent high-profile attack in Nairobi’s Spring Valley area has been shot dead during a police operation in Joska, Machakos County, as detectives intensify efforts to dismantle a wider criminal network operating across the Nairobi metropolitan region.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect was neutralised following a fierce shootout with officers who had tracked him to a residence in Joska Town, where he was reportedly hiding at his girlfriend’s house.
The operation, conducted jointly by detectives from DCI headquarters and DCI Matungulu, followed what authorities described as credible intelligence linking the suspect to a string of violent robberies reported in Nairobi, Kiambu and Machakos counties.
“Acting swiftly on crucial intelligence, detectives launched a raid on a house in Joska Town where the suspect had reportedly taken refuge,” the DCI said in a statement.
Police said the officers identified themselves upon arrival and ordered the occupants to open the door. However, the suspect allegedly responded by opening fire through a kitchen window, prompting a return of fire from the detectives.
“Upon identifying themselves and ordering the occupants to open the door, the suspect opened fire, spraying bullets at the officers. Detectives returned fire in self-defence,” the agency stated.
After securing the premises, officers found the suspect inside the house with fatal gunshot wounds.
At the scene, detectives recovered a Beretta pistol loaded with a magazine containing four rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Additional items seized included live rounds, spent cartridges, and three mobile phones believed to be relevant to ongoing investigations.
“A Beretta pistol loaded with a magazine containing four rounds of 9mm ammunition, alongside live rounds and spent cartridges, was recovered at the scene,” the DCI confirmed.
Preliminary findings have linked the suspect to the recent daylight robbery along General Mathenge Road in Spring Valley, Westlands, where a group of armed individuals stormed a popular restaurant, robbing diners of phones and other valuables before fleeing on motorcycles.
“The suspect is believed to have been part of a criminal network behind a series of violent robberies across Nairobi, Kiambu and Machakos counties,” the statement added.
The recovered firearm has since been forwarded to the National Police Service Forensic Laboratory for ballistic analysis to determine whether it was used in other criminal activities.
Meanwhile, detectives have launched a manhunt for other members of the suspected gang who remain at large.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reaffirms its commitment to dismantling violent criminal networks and ensuring all those involved face the full force of the law,” the agency said.