Police in Nairobi's Buruburu estate on Wednesday gunned down a man said to be in the list of the city's top wanted criminals.
Police who killed the man identified as Jeremiah Chege also recovered a pistol, two mobile phones suspected to have been stolen and 21 rounds of ammunition which were loaded in the pistol the deceased had.
A report filed at the Buruburu police station says police swung into action after residents reported that a group of three people was stealing from pedestrians at KCC village in Kariobangi.
Police arrived at the scene but a fire exchange ensued after the three men failed to surrender as ordered by the law enforcers. Chege was shot dead on the spot as the other two escaped.
The cops said Chege was the most wanted criminal in the area as he had been linked to various robberies, killings and rape incidents in Kariobangi.
The slain gangster had two cases pending in court- one for robbery with violence and another one for rape the police said.
Chege is said to have stolen the firearm which was recovered from him on April 27 last year although the police did not say where the gun was stolen from.
His killing comes at a time Nairobi deputy police commander Richard Kerich announced a major crackdown on criminal gangs wrecking havoc on Nairobi residents and visitors.