An armed robber was on Friday night shot dead by police officers after allegedly attacking a man in Githurai 44, Nairobi county.

In the dramatic incident that resulted in a police chase, the thug who had attempted to escape the scene on a motorcycle was gunned down as his accomplice fled.

A statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Saturday revealed that the occurrence which was captured on CCTV footage saw the assailant ambush a man outside his gate, shortly after packing his car, as his accomplice waited on a motorcycle at a distance.

“No sooner had the man stopped his vehicle and alighted to open the gate than the thug sprung from a row of dark vibandaskis opposite the gate training his firearm at the hapless man’s jugular,” DCI stated.

In what appeared to be a calculated move, the attacker ransacked the already frightened man before his partner emerged from the dark and the latter hopped onto the bike as the pair sped off.

Unlucky for the duo, Kasarani detectives who were patrolling the area heard the commotion and the screams of the robbery victim and rushed to the scene, cornering the thugs.

“Unbeknownst to them, sleuths based at Kasarani who were on patrol had parked their machine adjacent to a dark wall on a bend one kilometre away…. So when they heard the distress call followed by police communication from control, the Subaru was hastily ignited and it roared for duty,” read the statement.

“Along the way towards Mokoe road, they saw a motorbike that made a sudden U-turn after spotting the respected hatchback.”

The DCI explained that the thug sitting on the pillion alighted and began to shoot at the police car but the sleuths retaliated and the man was shot dead. 

"As the officers closed in on the bike, the armed thug suddenly disembarked and started running on foot towards a footpath while shooting towards the officers. Left with no other option, one of the crime busters opened fire and silenced him, bringing the chase to an end," DCI recorded.

The officers managed to recover the firearm used by the thug but his partner got a chance to escape.

“One Czeska pistol loaded with four rounds of 9mm calibre was recovered following the chase,” stated the DCI.

The deceased's body has since been taken to City Mortuary pending identification.