A notorious robbery suspect escaped arrest after officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) traced him to his house in Meru County.
In a report released on Tuesday, DCI revealed that the suspect was part of a three-man gang involved in a series of violent robberies across the county.
Officers cornered the gang at a residence in Meru, resulting in the arrest of two suspects. However, one managed to escape by slipping through a camouflaged opening on one side of the wooden house.
Detectives were baffled by the suspect's audacious escape strategy as they had combed the house without spotting the opening.
Nonetheless, the apprehended suspects were taken into custody for further interrogation as officers launched a manhunt for the fugitive and the other gang members.
"The suspect and his gang members are still out there but it's only a matter of time before the detective pounces on them as the No Guns for Gangs operation heightens," DCI stated.
DCI noted that the suspects were accused of robbing residents at gunpoint and assaulting their victims, among other offences.
They were further linked to a violent robbery at a local petrol station where they beat the employees, tied them, and fled with Ksh57,000 and a safe box with an unknown amount of money in a night attack.
To compound their case, they were alleged to have shot a boda rider as they attempted to steal a vehicle. Luckily, the rider survived after fighting for his bike, which was also targeted.
The DCI also stated that the trio was wanted for various felonies pending before Meru, Githongo, and Nanyuki law courts. The felonies included murder, robbery, attempted defilement, and burglary.
Two of the suspects were earlier held at the Meru GK Prison as remandees for robbery with violence and murder charges but were released on bond.
Meanwhile, in the Tuesday raid, DCI recovered two motor vehicles used by the suspects to traverse the country.
It also warned members of the public against interacting with or hosting the wanted suspect, who is armed and dangerous, and instead, report his whereabouts to the relevant investigative agencies.
