Four suspected armed gangsters were killed after engaging detectives in a deadly gun battle during an intelligence-led operation along the Eldoret–Kiplombe–Soy Road.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the operation was conducted by officers from the Operation Action Team (OAT), working jointly with local police units following credible intelligence from members of the public.
Investigators said the suspects, who had allegedly been impersonating police officers while terrorising motorists and other road users, walked into an ambush laid by the detectives.
When confronted, the suspects reportedly opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire in which four of them were fatally injured. Two other suspects escaped the scene on motorcycles heading towards Eldoret Town and are currently being pursued.
A search conducted at the scene led to the recovery of a loaded Falcon pistol with six rounds of ammunition, a homemade firearm, a spent cartridge, a hammer, crude housebreaking tools, balaclava masks, gloves, and ropes—items police say point to a well-organised criminal gang.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the group is part of a wider network of criminals suspected of impersonating police and military officers to carry out violent robberies across the Rift Valley region since late last year.
The gang is believed to have used firearms, including an AK-47 rifle and pistols, alongside police-style uniforms to deceive unsuspecting victims before launching attacks.
Detectives are also probing the gang’s possible links to a robbery with violence incident reported at Gathioro Police Station, in which a PCEA reverend was killed, along with other criminal activities in the region.
Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) teams processed the area, and the bodies of the four suspects were moved to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary pending post-mortem and identification.
The recovered Falcon pistol has been forwarded to the National Police Service Forensic Laboratory, where ballistic experts will determine whether it was used in other crimes across the country.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified a manhunt for the fleeing suspects as investigations continue.
The DCI commended members of the public for providing timely intelligence that led to the operation, urging continued cooperation in reporting suspicious activities.
Authorities said public vigilance remains a critical component in the ongoing fight against organised and violent crime.
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