Police officers in Nyeri have gunned down a man believed to be part of a gang behind the murder of a chief.
The suspect was gunned down on Thursday following a heavy fire exchange with the police.
The man, who was late identified as Elias Kiriithi, has been on the police radar for more than a year. He is suspected to be behind the murder of Gitathini Sub Chief Peter Kimiti.
Nyeri Subcounty Police Commander Paul Kuria confirmed the incident saying that the man had opened fire before he was shot dead.
“The suspect was armed with a Ceska pistol and an extra magazine. He opened fire on our officers who retaliated," Kuria said as quoted by Standard.
The suspect and his accomplices reportedly shot dead the chief a few meters from his home. The motives behind the murder remain unclear as investigations continue.
The incident comes after Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i ordered the police to conduct a massive crackdown.
The CS also directed for the reshuffling of the local administrators in a bid to curb cases of crime in the area.
Incidents of crime had become rampant in the area forcing police to be more vigilant after residents raised an alarm.