A police man was last night shot dead and two of his colleagues injured by suspected gangsters at Nairobi’s Sunlight Estate in Imara Daima.

The officers are said to have been on patrol in that area when they were ambushed by suspected robbers who had been waylaying passers-by and robbing them of valuables.

Nairobi Police Boss Moses Ombati told the Nation on phone the gang fired at the police patrol car upon seeing it making it difficult for the police to respond fast.

“The officers didn’t know because they were in their vehicle. But these group of robbers opened fire on them and unfortunately, we lost one of our officers,” he said.


He said the police managed to kill one of them as the rest escaped. Several stolen items like laptops, mobile phones and bags were recovered as the robbers fled, Mr Ombati confirmed.

The area, one of the latest housing estates in Nairobi’s eastlands borders the Mukuru kwa Njenga slums which police believe could be harbouring many of the criminals.

The injured police were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital. The Police could not immediately release the name of the dead suspect but Mr Ombati said the police would hunt down the remaining members of the gang.

The incident came hours after the police had warned of an imminent increase in criminal activities this festive season but assured of adequate security especially in urban areas.

This incident also continues to mark 2012 as an unfortunate year for the police, many of who have been killed in the line of their duties around the country.