Four Robbery Suspects Shot Dead In Kilifi, Stolen Police Rifle Recovered

KILIFI Kenya, June 13 -Four robbery suspects were on Tuesday morning shot dead at Mkwajuni along Mombasa-Kilifi road and one of the AK47 rifles that was robbed of officers during the July 2021 Equity Matuu Branch raid recovered

One of the slain suspects, Festus Mutisya Kaloki alias Kamwana was recently released on bond from court where he was charged with several counts of robbery, including robbery at Economy Way Supermarket at Manoni, Kiembeni on February 26, 2023.

Kaloki and his accomplices were also being investigated over a spate of robberies within Mombasa County, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Several victims had reported to the police, OB numbers 29/13/1/2023 at Nyali police station; 25/15/02/2023 (Kadzandani police station); 20/07/02/2023 (Tononoka police station) and others in Changamwe and Mtwapa.

In a well-planned covert operation, detectives from the DCI headquarters commenced surveillance of Kaloki after reports indicated that he was armed with the AK47 rifle that was being used in several robberies in Kwale, Machakos, Mombasa and other areas.

The suspect was always in the company of his motorcycle rider, Tsuma Ndoro.

“The suspects were first geolocated in Likoni on Monday at around 1pm but at around 4pm, they crossed the ferry and were later located at Shimanzi and Nyali,” the DCI said.

The detectives pursued them to Shariani and later ended up in Mkwajuni where it was suspected they were also planning to commit another robbery.

The officers approached the house where they were hiding and ordered them to come out, hands up. A shootout ensued, and four of them –Mutisya, Ndoro and two yet to be identified men –were shot dead

The AK47 rifle, serial number KE KP 5527115 was recovered and loaded with 7 rounds of ammunition.

Also recovered were two motorcycles, registration numbers KMFS 631T and KMEF 182P respectively, assorted mobile phones and ID cards, face masks and a knife among others.

The bodies were transferred to Coast General Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

The rifle is one of the firearms that was stolen on July 27 at around 9.10am, five armed men raided Equity Bank after they disarmed Constable Patrick Omusebe and Constable Dorothy Opili of their rifles both loaded with a total of 60 rounds of ammunition.

The DCI said the recovered weapon belonged to Constable Opili.

On July 7 last year, the rifle that was stolen from Constable Omusebe was recovered in a thicket in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

The owner of the farm told police he was clearing a bush when he stumbled on the weapon, which had 21 bullets. It was then taken to DCI headquarters for ballistic tests to establish if it has been used in any attacks.

Mutisya and Peter Kilaa had been arrested in Kongowea Nyali and arraigned in a Mombasa court following the robbery at an Mpesa shop on February 26, 2023.

According to the CCTV footage, the two raided the premises at around 2.07pm where they robbed Dorcas Mueni of Sh29,000, mobile phone, locks and mobile phone chargers while armed with the Ak47 rifle.

They entered the shop posing as customers who wanted to withdraw Sh2000 while wearing caps and face masks.

One of them pulled out the rifle as the other thug opened the door leading to the counter and ordered Mueni to surrender all the money in the shop as his accomplice threatened to shoot the woman if she didn’t cooperate.

“We do not have a problem with you if you cooperate,” one of them shouted. After the robbery, they got onto an awaiting boda boda and fled to an unknown destination.

They were charged and the investigating officer requested the court to grant them more days to complete investigations, saying the suspects committed the offence with others still at large then.

“We are yet to record statements from the victims, we are apprehensive that the respondents might interfere with investigations, especially key witnesses,” the investigating officer told Mombasa Senior Resident Magistrate Rita Odera.

The Magistrate then ordered that they be detained at Bamburi police station for 21 days.

They were later released and continued committing robberies until yesterday when the detectives caught up with them.