A police officer was shot dead during an armed robbery in Nairobi's Kayole neighborhood on Tuesday night.
According to authorities, his wife was shot and wounded in the leg in Mihango.
When the incident occurred, the officer from the Makadara Directorate of Criminal Investigations was traveling home with his wife.
He was identified as Constable David Mayaka.
According to police, the couple had stopped in the Hurlingham neighborhood to repair a car tire when three males on a motorcycle drew up behind them.
According to police, the attackers claimed to assist the two in repairing the puncture, but they revealed out to be thugs.
This, according to Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei turned confrontational with the officer trying to get his gun, which was in the car.
The gang jumped onto their motorcycle and one of them opened fire shooting the officer in the abdomen.
They also shot and injured his wife Hellen Kemunot in the thigh as she ran for safety.
Police said the gang escaped without stealing anything.
They had their number plates folded.
Police who arrived at the scene said they found the woman screaming in the car.
The two were rushed to hospital where the police officer succumbed.
“The wife is in stable condition. No arrest has been made so far but we have a team on the ground looking for the gang behind the shooting,” Bungei said.
He said the gang was on a random robbery spree when they met the couple who were headed home.
According to Bungei, the incident happened Tuesday at about 10 pm.
A team of detectives was sent from Nairobi Area to back up their Kayole counterparts in pursuing the gang.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and other procedures.
Statistics showcases of armed robberies are on the rise in some parts of the city.
Police authorities are battling gangs that are on the loose seeking money.
“After the political protests went down we are seeing a surge in crime. We suspect most of these thugs were getting free money from political activities,” said one officer aware of the trend.
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