After surviving a potentially fatal attack, Police have arrested five suspects as young as 19 years old along Thika Road, Nairobi County out of nine who hurled hand-held grenade on them at Mathare 29/30 terminus with suspicion that they are part of Kayole gang terrorizing residents.
The five have been identified as Kevin Opiyo Onyango (24), Maricus Odhiambo (30), Moses Okiri Nyarianga (21), Collins Juma Oduor (19), and Samwel Wanyoike Njeri (19).
Reports show that the five who are in custody were part of a nine-man gang riding on three bikes around the Mathare 29/30 bus terminus headed towards Thika Road.
A chase ensued as officers pursued them on their motorbikes.
GSU Officers who were guarding the De la Rue also joined the chase and managed to corner some of the gang members at a matatu stage.
Four others fled leaving their counterparts who had fallen off the bikes in the hands of police.
One of the attackers who was fleeing on foot threw a grenade at the officers before running back into the Mathare North estate.
In the operation where five were arrested, officers recovered a hand propelled grenade, three phones and several flash disks.
Investigations are ongoing to ascertain whether the gang was part of a Kayole-based group that has been terrorising residents.
Police statement: “ON MONDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2019 AT 17:30HRS POLICE OFFICERS RECOVERED ONE SELF-PROPELLED GRENADE. IT WAS REPORTED BY MUTHAIGA 7 SPIV THAT THEY WERE AT MATHARE 29/30 TERMINUS WHEN THREE MOTORCYCLES EACH WITH THREE OCCUPANTS PASSED IN HIGH SPEED HEADING TOWARDS THIKA ROAD. THEY GAVE CHASE USING A MOTORCYCLE AND INTERCEPTED THEM AT DRIVE-IN STAGE.”