Two police officers were seriously injured in Ruai, Nairobi, when a gang on motorcycles attacked them on patrol, The Star reported. The attack happened at about 1am on Tuesday, according to a police report. The gang escaped with two AK-47 rifles. Each rifle was loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.
The officers were named as Corporal John Maritim and Corporal Felistus Tuitoek. Both were on beat duty when the gang struck. Members of the public reported the attack and rushed the officers to Reale Hospital in Utawala.
Officers led by the Ruai Sub-County Police Commander visited the hospital and found both corporals in serious condition. Maritim had a deep cut to the back of his head and injuries to his hands. The police report said he was unresponsive during the visit. Tuitoek had a deep cut to the back of her head and injuries to both hands, but she was responsive. Police believe the attackers used a sharp object.
Police listed the stolen rifles by serial number. One, serial number 5524217, was issued to Maritim. The other carries serial number 5525776. Officers were deployed to recover the weapons and track down the attackers. Pulse Live Kenya reported that police had launched a major operation.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Ruai is handling the case. Police classified it as robbery with violence and injury to police officers. Investigations are ongoing, and police are expected to release more details.
Pulse Live Kenya noted that the Ruai attack came weeks after a similar raid in Likoni, Mombasa. In the early hours of Monday, October 26, a gang armed with crude weapons attacked officers at a county cess checkpoint. Pulse reported that one officer died. The attackers cut Officer Wilfred Amin's hand, shot him in the left thigh and seized his AK-47 rifle, loaded with 30 rounds. Mombasa County Police Commander Stella Jerono said the motive for that attack was not known. The rifle is still missing.