The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched investigations into an incident where a shootout ensued between the police and suspected robbers on Tuesday.

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The incident is said to have occurred after the six suspected armed gangsters reportedly mounted an unsuccessful robbery attempt on a petrol station in Juja, Kiambu County.

However, the attempt was scuttled by police officers on patrol who responded to an alarm raised by the station workers and managed to gun down five of the suspects.

IPOA has however raised concerns over the circumstances that led to the shootings.

"IPOA yesterday learnt of an incident in which five civilians were allegedly shot and killed in Juja, Kiambu County on March 12, 2019 by the police," reads a report signed by the authority chair Anne Makori on Thursday.

The report further states that the authority has launched a probe to unveil what transpired before the shootings.

"On its own motion, and pursuant to statutory mandate under section 25(1) of the IPOA act that requires the authority to investigate deaths and serious injuries caused by police action, IPOA immediately launched independent investigations into the incident with a view of unravelling the circumstances that led to the fatal shootings," reads the statement in part.

However, confirming the shootings on Thursday, Juja DCIO Ali Samatar claimed that the suspects were gunned down after firing at the police.

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