Detectives have seized a firearm forcefully taken from Vihiga police station OCS during an attack by a criminal gang in December 2023 in Mwiki, Kasarani sub-county.

In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) narrated how the dramatic retrieval unfolded as one member of the gang, in possession of the stolen Jericho pistol, was neutralized following a daring confrontation with the DCI Operations team.

DCI said the incident occurred on December 21, 2023, when the gang ambushed the Chief Inspector at Vihiga's Majengo market while he parked his vehicle.

"A firearm that was violently robbed from the Officer Commanding Vihiga Police Station when a criminal gang attacked him while on patrol on December 21, 2023, has been recovered in Mwiki, Kasarani sub-county. One member of the gang from whose possession the Jericho pistol was recovered was also neutralized after daring a gunfight with the DCI Operations team that was trailing them," DCI stated.

"To get the firearm, the ruthless gang had on the said date waylaid the Chief Inspector as he parked his car in Vihiga's Majengo market, descending on him with daggers and leaving him for the dead. They then disappeared with his Jericho pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition."

Armed with daggers, they launched a vicious assault, leaving the officer for dead before fleeing with his Jericho pistol, fully loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition.

Following days of intensive surveillance, detectives from the DCI Operations Directorate swiftly responded to an intelligence tip-off.

The DCI said an anonymous caller reported sighting a suspicious vehicle occupied by three armed individuals at the KU farm in Mwiki.

The detectives identified the suspects as the same group who had previously eluded multiple police dragnets after perpetrating various attacks in the capital.

Upon confrontation, two of the suspects attempted to flee, while the third, wielding the stolen firearm, engaged in a gun battle with the officers and was ultimately shot down.

The deceased suspect's accomplices managed to evade capture by seeking refuge in a busy shopping centre, but law enforcement authorities are actively pursuing them.

Additionally, a KBZ 985T Nissan Note, utilized by the suspects, was impounded along with other incriminating evidence found concealed within.

"On challenging the miscreants to surrender, two of the three took to their heels as the shot suspect brandished the firearm for a battle of guns and was gunned down. His accomplices made it to the populated shopping centre and holed up but the police were hot on their trail. A KBZ 985T Nissan Note which the suspects were using was impounded alongside other exhibits that were found stashed in it. The suspect's body has been moved to the City Mortuary pending identification," DCI stated.