A chase between police and suspected robbers turned fatal after the officers sprayed their (suspects') vehicle with bullets.
In a statement, the police in Kericho County stated that they had ordered the occupants of the vehicle to stop but they defied the directive prompting a high-speed chase.
Kericho County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO), John Onyango, stated that the vehicle had five people whom cops suspect are part of a gang that has staged robberies in the Rift Valley town.
Onyango added that police caught up with the gang at the Kapsuser Trading Centre on the Litein - Sotik road but despite the numerous orders to stop, the suspects escaped forcing police to give chase.
“Today morning, we laid an ambush at the Kapsuser Trading Centre. When our officers challenged them to stop, they defied the orders, leading to the chase. Unfortunately, three of the suspects were fatally injured, and two sustained gunshot wounds,” stated Onyango.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) claimed that the suspects were in a saloon car which the registration plate had been tampered with.
According to the DCI sleuths, the number plate had been fiddled with using a black tape.
Meanwhile in Garissa County, police recovered four guns with 203 rounds of ammunition after they received a tip-off from members of the public.
Several suspects escaped police dragnet leaving the weapons behind which police believe were to be used in criminal activities.
Police are in pursuit of the main suspects. Three people from the nearby houses were picked for questioning.
The law enforcement officers have asked Kenyans to be vigilant and report any suspicious individuals in their areas, noting that crime is likely to soar as the country heads into the festive season.
A report on the rise in crime showed that certain months observed more criminal activities, especially from boda boda operators.
The report indicated that December, April, August and January as the most affected months.
