DCI Kill Armed Robbers 4 Months After Mombasa Shop Robbery In CCTV Footage

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday night, June 12 shot dead four thugs responsible for a string of armed robberies in Machakos, Mombasa and Kwale Counties over the past few months.

According to the DCI in their report on Tuesday, June 13, the thugs defied orders to surrender, opting to challenge the detectives to a duel by shooting at them indiscriminately.

What the thugs did not know was that the detectives had kept track of them while preparing themselves in advance to deal with the miscreants who were armed with an AK-47 assault rifle.

Assortment of items, including an AK-47 rifle, recovered from four robbers shot dead on June 12, 2023. /DCI

"Unbeknownst to the thugs, the sleuths who had trailed them for months were sharpening their claws each passing day, ready for any eventuality that would lead to the recovery of the government rifle in their possession. 

"Sounds of gunfire rent the air in the sleepy coastal creek of Takaungu in Kilifi County last night, as the sleuths drawn from the elite Crime Research & Intelligence Bureau, augmented by marksmen from the DCI Operations branch answered to the thugs’ provocation with precision," stated the DCI in part.

The audacious gang was linked to various robberies, including one on July 27, 2021, whereby they staged a bank heist at a local bank in Matuu, Machakos County and made away with an undisclosed amount of money. 

This is after they disarmed a police officer who was on guard duties and took off with her AK-47 rifle that was loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. 

"Since then, the miscreants terrorized Kenyans in over 10 armed robberies, through brazen attacks some staged during the day, targeting mobile money shops and other business establishments in Mombasa and Kwale counties. 

"After comprehensive forensic analysis conducted at the DCI National Forensic Lab, the lost police firearm was linked to two suspects one only identified as Festus and the other as Tsuma Ndoro," added the DCI.

Consequently, a team of highly skilled detectives was immediately mobilized to go after the thugs and after weeks of laying an ambush in Kwale, their efforts finally paid off when the thugs made a move and crossed the Likoni channel on June 12, at around 4 pm. 

The sleuths in an unmarked hatchback trailed them from the Likoni ferry to Shimanzi, Nyali and Shariani before finally cornering them in Takaungu, moments to midnight. The thugs were headed to Kilifi town to commit more robberies when their mission was disrupted by the detectives.

The AK-47 assault rifle that was wrestled from a police officer in the Matuu bank heist was recovered, loaded with only 7 rounds of 7.62-x39 caliber. Two motorcycles make Boxer KMFS 631T and Haogin KMEF 182P, both red in colour that was used by the suspects as getaway means, were also impounded.

The gunning down of the suspects came four months after former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko promised a reward of Ksh100,000 to anyone with information leading to the arrest of robbers armed with the AK-47 rifle captured robbing a mobile money shop on Sunday, February 26.

CCTV footage shared on social media on Monday, February 27 showed the robbers wearing caps and face masks making their way to the shop located in Bamburi, Mombasa County at 2:09 pm posing as customers.

One of the thugs pretends to be withdrawing some money and is heard confirming the agent number to use with a female attendant who sat patiently waiting to serve him.

Meanwhile, the second robber is seen checking something in his backpack before he pulls out the AK-47 rifle, much to the surprise of the attendant.

Video of daring robbers with an AK-47 rifle robbing a shop attendant in Bamburi, Mombasa County#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/wKVuAdoxJq — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) February 27, 2023