At least three people, including a seven-year-old boy, were shot and injured in a dramatic confrontation between suspected criminals and police officers in Mathare slums, Nairobi. The Wednesday evening incident has prompted a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injuries.
According to police reports, the altercation began when a gang snatched a mobile phone from a passenger aboard a public service vehicle along Juja Road before fleeing into the slum. Such incidents have become rampant on the busy route, leading to increased police operations aimed at curbing crime.
Eyewitnesses raised the alarm, alerting police officers on patrol along Juja Road, prompting a hot pursuit through Nigeria Gate. However, the suspects managed to disappear toward Kampala Ndogo, eluding capture.
Moments later, gunshots were heard from the direction in which the suspects had fled. The officers retreated, only to receive information later from MSF Hospital that three people had been rushed there with gunshot wounds. The victims, including the young boy and two pedestrians, sustained injuries in the stomach and legs.
Police have denied shooting at the suspects during the chase and have launched an investigation to determine the source of the gunfire that injured the victims. A joint security operation was conducted in the area to apprehend the criminals, but no arrests were made.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident within the same area, a suspect was arrested after stabbing and seriously wounding a man during a robbery. The victim, who was on his way to work early Wednesday morning, resisted the attack, leading the assailant to stab him in the stomach before making off with his mobile phone. The wounded man was rushed to the hospital, where he was admitted in stable condition. Police later apprehended the suspect in a nearby house.
Violent crimes, including muggings and stabbings, have been prevalent in informal settlements like Mathare. Authorities have urged victims to comply with attackers’ demands to avoid life-threatening injuries. Just last month, a man was fatally stabbed in a similar robbery attempt while taking his four-year-old son to daycare. The child, who witnessed the brutal attack, was later adopted by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. The suspect in that case remains at large, with police intensifying efforts to track him down.
As crime continues to rise in the city, law enforcement agencies have vowed to strengthen security measures to protect residents, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
