Suspected Criminal Shot Dead by Police in Athi River, Machakos County

A suspected criminal was fatally shot by police in Athi River, Machakos County, early Tuesday morning. According to police reports, the suspect, along with a group of accomplices, had barricaded a road in the Sabaki area of Athi River South subcounty, where they ambushed officers and attempted to rob them.

The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. and was promptly reported to the Athi River police station. As detailed in a report seen by aKtive Citizen, officers from the Sabaki Police Post were conducting a mobile patrol in an unmarked vehicle along the Total Sabaki-Suraya murram road when they encountered the barricade made of large stones. 

The officers were confronted by a group of approximately ten men who ordered them to surrender their belongings. One of the suspects brandished what appeared to be a pistol and pointed it at the officers, while others wielded crude weapons. In response, the officers opened fire, forcing the attackers to flee into a nearby bush.

Following the confrontation, the police conducted a thorough search of the area and discovered the body of an unidentified African male, approximately 30 years old. A toy pistol, two pangas, rungus, and a bow and arrow were recovered at the scene. The body, which had no identification documents, was taken to Shalom Community Hospital Mortuary for an autopsy. Police suspect that other members of the gang may have escaped with injuries.

Residents of the area believe that the gang had carefully planned their attack, choosing the Keekorok stretch for its isolated location and using two blocked sections to prevent easy escape. One resident recounted how, during a previous attack, a driver managed to escape by driving over the stones, an incident that may have prompted the gang to adopt more sophisticated tactics.

Concerned residents now fear that the gang might target other vulnerable stretches, such as the Anthena SDA stretch or the far end of Four Winds Suraya. They are urging security agencies to anticipate the gang’s next moves and to proactively map out potential attack points and times to prevent further incidents.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers attached to Athi River police station have launched an investigation into the incident.

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This shooting highlights growing concerns among residents of Sabaki Estate and surrounding areas regarding rising insecurity, particularly on the road linking the estate to Mombasa Road near Signature Mall. On the night of August 30, 2024, a group of youths attacked residents along this road, blocking it with stones and robbing motorists of their valuables.

In a recent incident, a woman was seriously injured near Four Winds Estate after being attacked by the same group. The following night, a prominent businessman, who owns a chain of minimarts, was attacked outside Suraya Estate, adjacent to Four Winds Estate in Sabaki. Residents have reported multiple attacks by machete-wielding thugs in the area, especially during the last two weeks of August. These criminals have been robbing residents as early as 8:00 p.m., forcing them to surrender their mobile phones, valuables, and to empty their mobile banking accounts. The stolen funds have reportedly been traced to two individuals, Ms. Anne Kasasa and Mr. Reuben Mathenge.

Suraya Estate, Sabaki, Machakos County. 

One victim, Mr. Muli, a resident of Sabaki, recounted being held hostage for two hours on the night of August 26th August, 2024. He was eventually released after his mobile money accounts were drained, with the funds transferred to the same suspects, Kasasa and Mathenge.

Police have urged residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities as investigations continue.