Two suspected gangsters were on Tuesday shot dead by plainclothes police officers in a dramatic midday confrontation along Moi Avenue, Nairobi.
Six of their accomplices escaped with Sh300,000 stolen from a member of the public moments after he withdrew the cash from a bank.
The incident unfolded just minutes before noon and brought business to a standstill, with shocked pedestrians crowding the busy street and jostling to catch a glimpse of the crime scene.
Officers struggled to contain the swelling crowd as the two suspects' bodies lay metres apart — one outside Contrast House and the other inside the building at the Darae Lane exit.
At one point, the police fired tear gas at the surging crowd in order to secure the scene.
According to eyewitnesses, chaos erupted when a man who had withdrawn money walked onto Kimathi Lane, unaware that he was being followed by eight people.
The body of one of two alleged gangsters was loaded into a police vehicle along Moi Avenue in Nairobi on December 9, 2025. They were shot dead by police officers.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation
The suspects reportedly confronted him, strangled him and snatched an envelope containing the money. Panic ensued as the victim screamed for help and bystanders rushed to his aid.
Unbeknownst to the gang, plain-clothes police officers from Nairobi Central Police Station had been monitoring the area and had noticed the group of suspects trailing the victim.
When the suspects attempted to flee, they brandished knives at the officers, who opened fire.
Speaking to the Daily Nation at the scene of the crime, Central Police Commander Philemon Nyakumbo revealed that the gang had been operating in the Central Business District for several months.
“They target people who have made withdrawals from banks, and they normally wield knives at their prey,” said Mr Nyakumbo.
He added that the gang is believed to be part of a broader network that preys on unsuspecting members of the public, particularly individuals carrying bags or envelopes that could contain cash.
According to the commander, officers on patrol had spotted the gang moments before the attack and had attempted to intervene.
“My officers saw them and tried to stop them, but they were armed with knives and were fleeing. It was then that the two were fatally injured. Given the crowded streets, it was challenging to shoot the other suspects without harming innocent Kenyans,” Mr Nyakumbo said.
The officers managed to neutralise two of the suspects when the situation escalated, but the remaining six vanished into the busy streets with the stolen Sh300,000.
Police recovered three knives, several mobile phones and assorted keys believed to belong to victims of previous robberies. The recovered items were displayed briefly as forensic officers documented the scene before removing the bodies.
Traders operating along Moi Avenue and Kimathi Lane temporarily shut their stalls, with some recounting how they had initially thought the gunshots were firecrackers or a tyre burst.
“I heard two loud bangs and saw people running in every direction. Within seconds, police were everywhere,” said a shop attendant at a boutique near Contrast House. “It was very frightening because the street was full of people, and we didn’t know what was happening.”
Another pedestrian said she saw one of the suspects sprint into the entrance of Contrast House, only to collapse moments later after being shot.
“Everyone screamed and ducked. The officers kept shouting for people to get out of the way,” she said.
The CBD has, in recent weeks, witnessed a spike in reports of muggings, particularly involving knife-wielding gangs targeting individuals leaving banks and forex bureaus.
Victims have reported losing large sums of money, mobile phones, and other personal items in attacks that often occur in broad daylight.
Mr Nyakumbo said that the police have intensified patrols and deployed undercover units to curb the rising crime, especially during this festive season.
He urged members of the public to avoid displaying cash in public and to exercise caution when making withdrawals, particularly during peak hours.
The police have launched a manhunt for the remaining six suspects. Detectives believe that the gang operated in groups of between four and eight and that they may be connected to muggings reported in the streets around Tom Mboya, River Road, Kimathi Street and Aga Khan Walk.
Officers are reviewing CCTV footage from buildings along the suspects’ escape route in an effort to track them.
