An armed robbery suspect was on Friday morning, arrested after attempting to rob a mobile-money shop in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
According to a police report sent to Kenyans.co.ke, the incident unfolded at 10:30 am when the suspect trailed a businessman who had visited the mobile money shop to deposit Ksh200,000.
The armed robber accosted the businessman and the attendant to surrender the money he deposited. Thereafter, he fled the crime scene as the shop owner alerted members of the public who came to her rescue.
Upon learning that his life was in danger, the armed robber fired several shots to warn the crowd that was baying for his blood.
However, more curious onlookers and nearby police officers rushed to the scene and chased after the robber, who ran towards the local bank.
Nonetheless, he did not find a safe haven inside the bank as guards and the Ruiru residents subsequently cornered him.
One of the guards disarmed the robber and handed him over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers, who responded to the distress call.
Police recovered a Glock pistol loaded with 14 rounds and Ksh54,000 from the money he had stolen from the mobile money shop.
Photos circulating online showed the man, dressed in a grey suit, in cuffs as plain-clothed officers escorted him from the scene.
The officers further protected him from the angry residents who wanted to lynch him while decrying the state of insecurity in the town.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is an employee attached to the Ruiru Recce squad.
Officers attached to the Ruiru Police Station have launched investigations into the incident.
