One gangster was on Monday shot dead in a gunfight with police at Enamba, Riosiri Location, South Mugirango sub-county, Kisii County.
He was part of a heavily-armed six-man gang that had raided a wholesale shop in the area.
According to Kisii County Commander Ms Agnes Mudambi, the gang first disconnected the electricity supply before storming the shop, where they took the owner hostage.
“Our officers were notified by members of the public and immediately rushed to the scene, where the thugs engaged them in a shootout,” she said.
The police boss said that one of the thugs ran from the shop into a nearby bar and began shooting at the police from within.
“We had to approach the bar with caution because there were patrons still inside when the gangsters entered it,” she said.
Ms Mudambi said that the thug was eventually shot dead after a fierce exchange of fire with the police.
She said that the dead thug was among the three gangsters who had escaped with gunshot wounds.
The police boss confirmed that a few bystanders were injured during the gunfight that lasted several hours.
“During the gunfight, three people were injured in the crossfire. The three included a child shot in the thigh and a man shot in the jaw they were rushed to Tabaka Mission hospital where they were attended to,” she said.
She also appealed to medical facilities that might have received patients with gunshot wounds to contact the police with details since they might be the gangsters.
She expressed confidence in netting the missing suspects soon by saying that the officers have launched massive operation to track down the suspects