Two suspected gang members were fatally shot on September 30 night during an attempted robbery in Yala town, Gem-Yala sub-county.
The shooting occurred during a confrontation that also left a Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officer injured.
According to the police, the two suspects stormed a shop at around 10pm in an attempt to rob a female shopkeeper.
Gem-Yala Sub-County Police Commander Charles Wafula said that the woman raised the alarm, prompting DCI officers on patrol from Yala Police Station to go to her rescue.
Wafula said that the suspects had tried to escape by attacking the DCI officer with a metal rod.
He added that, during the confrontation, the officer had opened fire in self-defence, killing both suspects instantly.
The injured officer was admitted to Yala Sub-county Hospital, while the bodies were taken to the hospital's mortuary.
“The deceased were part of a criminal gang that we have been pursuing following a series of robberies in this area,” Wafula said.
This incident adds to recent robbery cases in Kenya.
In another incident on September 18, robbers pretending to be customers robbed a shop and went away with Ksh 50,000 in Maralal.
DCI said that one suspect, who was later arrested, shot and injured the shopkeeper and stole her money.
“In a moment of courage, the cashier managed to push the weapon away, but not before one of the suspects fired a shot, resulting in a bullet grazing her left breast and inflicting a painful soft tissue injury,” DCI noted.
